Physiological responses at the anaerobic threshold and at peak performance during arm crank ergometer diagnostics compared to wheelchair propulsion on a treadmill in elite wheelchair basketball players

Abstract

Summary Background The aim of this study was to compare arm crank with treadmill wheelchair ergometry by determining metabolic and respiratory outcomes at peak performance and individual anaerobic threshold in order to provide competitive wheelchair basketball players with optimal training prescription recommendations. Methods Eight players could be recruited from a first German division team. Oxygen uptake (VO2), heart rate (HR), energy expenditure (EE), and lactate concentration (LA) was determined at peak performance and at individual anaerobic threshold during two stepwise increasing tests in a randomized order. Results Using the arm crank ergometer led to significantly lower results for VO2 (25.7 ml kg−1 min−1 vs 50.0 ml kg−1 min−1), EE (543 kcal h−1 vs 940 kcal h−1) and HR (173 bpm vs 177 bpm) at peak performance and for VO2, EE and HR at the anaerobic thresholds compared to the wheelchair treadmill procedure (P = 0.012), except for the HR at the LA threshold. LA at the anaerobic threshold showed significantly higher concentrations for arm crank ergometry (3.4 mmol l−1 vs 2.8 mmol l−1, P = 0.025). Conclusion We therefore recommend using treadmill testing for wheelchair basketball players as it better mirrors demands of wheelchair basketball motions.