Field test estimation of maximal oxygen consumption in wheelchair users.

To develop a field test to estimate maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) in wheelchair users, 30 men (means age = 34.3 years) were subjected to progressive arm-crank ergometer testing with directly measured VO2max. Additionally, they performed a modified 12-minute wheelchair propulsion test for distance. Field testing was conducted within two weeks of the VO2max determination, using a standardized wheelchair (Quickie II) on a 0.1-mile indoor synthetic running track. Average peak power output and VO2max were 540 kg.m.min-1 and 22.0 ml.kg-1.min-1, respectively. The mean (+/- 1SD) wheelchair propulsion distance was 1.11 +/- 0.24 miles. Correlation of the field test data with the VO2max was highly significant (r = 0.84; p less than .001). The regression of distance in 12 minutes plotted against VO2max yielded the following equation: wheelchair propulsion (miles) = 0.370 + 0.0337 (VO2max, ml.kg-1.min-1), where the standard error of estimate = 0.13. These findings suggest that field testing can provide a good estimate of VO2max in selected wheelchair users.