Validation of submaximal oxygen consumption tests for individuals with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Spinal cord injury decreases total daily energy expenditure, placing this population at a much higher risk for cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes. However, exercise training individuals with spinal cord injuries have seen improvements in cardiovascular health and overall quality of life. The goal of this study is to establish reliable submaximal oxygen consumption tests for individuals with spinal cord injury. Compared to maximal tests, submaximal oxygen consumption tests are much cheaper, shorter in duration, and pose less of a health risk to the subjects.Participants for this study were individuals between the ages of 18 and 65 with chronic spinal cord injury (n=12). Each participant performed two maximal oxygen consumption tests and two submaximal oxygen consumption tests over the course of four sessions. The tests were performed on a SCIFIT Arm Ergometer and a NuStep T4. Both machines were used for one maximal and one submaximal test, the order of testing was random. Heart rate, blood pressure, rating of perceived exertion, and ECG were all recorded in addition to the metabolic data. We predicted the estimated oxygen consumption values from the submaximal tests would show a strong positive correlation with the oxygen consumption values obtained from the maximal graded tests. Pearson correlation and regression using ordinary least squares was used to find any correlations.