Resting cardiopulmonary function in paralympic athletes with cervical spinal cord injury
Author
West, C.R.
Campbell, I.G.
Shave, Rob
Romer, L.M.
Date
2012Type
Article
ISSN
1530-0315
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Purpose: The purposes of this study were to describe resting cardiopulmonary function in highly trained athletes with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and to compare the data with able-bodied (AB) control subjects.
Methods: Twelve Paralympic wheelchair rugby players with cervical SCI (injury level = C5–C7) and 12 AB controls matched for age, stature, and body mass were assessed for pulmonary function using spirometry, body plethysmography, and maximal inspiratory and expiratory mouth pressures; diaphragm function using magnetic stimulation of the phrenic nerves; and cardiac function using transthoracic echocardiography.
Results: Total lung capacity, vital capacity, inspiratory reserve volume, and expiratory reserve volume were lower in SCI compared with AB (P < 0.01), whereas residual volume was elevated in SCI (P = 0.022). Airway resistance and maximal inspiratory mouth pressure were not different between groups (P > 0.41), whereas maximal expiratory mouth pressure, maximal transdiaphragmatic pressure, and twitch transdiaphragmatic pressure were lower in SCI (P < 0.01). Percent predicted total lung capacity was significantly correlated with maximal transdiaphragmatic pressure in SCI (r = 0.74), suggesting that the pulmonary restriction was a result of diaphragm weakness. Left ventricular mass, ejection fraction, stroke volume, and cardiac output were lower in SCI (P < 0.04), but early and late filling velocities during diastole were not different between groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: Highly trained athletes with cervical SCI exhibit a restrictive pulmonary defect, weakness of the expiratory and diaphragm muscles, atrophy of the heart, and reduced systolic cardiac function.
Journal/conference proceeding
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
Citation
West, C.R., Campbell, I.G., Shave, R.E. and Romer, L.M. (2012) 'Resting cardiopulmonary function in Paralympic athletes with cervical spinal cord injury', Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 44(2), pp.323-329
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- Sport Research Groups [1127]
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