Field test estimation of maximal oxygen consumption in wheelchair users
Franklin, B.A.; Swantek, K.I.; Grais, S.L.; Johnstone, K.S.; Gordon, S.; Timmis, G.C.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 71(8): 574-578
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9993 PMID: 2369293 Document Number: 668
To develop a field test to estimate maximal oxygen consumption (.ovrhdot.VO2max) in wheelchair users, 30 men (.hivin.x age = 34.3 years) were subjected to progressive arm-crank ergometer testing with directly measured .ovrhdot.VO2max. Additionally, they performed a modified 12-minute wheelchair propulsion test for distance. Field testing was conducted within two weeks of the .ovrhdot.VO2max determination, using a standardized wheelchair (Quickie II) on a 0.1-mile indoor synthetic running track. Average peak power output and .ovrhdot.VO2max were 540 kg .cntdot. m .cntdot. min-1 and 22.0 ml .cntdot. kg-1 .cntdot. min-1, respectively. The mean (.+-. 1SD) wheelchair propulsion distance was 1.11 .+-. 0.24 miles. Correlation of the field test data with the .ovrhdot.VO2max was highly significant (r = 0.84; p < .001). The regression of distance in 12 minutes plotted against .ovrhdot.VO2max yielded the following equation: wheelchair propulsion (miles) = 0.370 + 0.0337 (.ovrhdot.VO2max, ml .cntdot. kg-1 .cntdot. min-1), where the standard error of estimate = 0.13. These findings suggest that field testing can provide a good estimate of .ovrhdot.VO2max in selected wheelchair users.
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