An exploratory study of respiratory muscle endurance training in high lesion level paraplegic handbike athletes.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of respiratory muscle endurance training (RMET) on lung function and exercise performance in athletes with high lesion level paraplegia.

DESIGN

This was a case-control intervention study.

SETTING

Sport and exercise science laboratories and bike path.

PARTICIPANTS

Twelve competitive handbike athletes with high lesion level paraplegia matched by lesion and fitness level in training (T) group (7) and control (C) group (5).

INTERVENTIONS

The T group performed 20 RMET training sessions over a 4-week period using a SpiroTiger. Each session lasted for 30 minutes. The C group did not perform any RMET.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Resting lung function, respiratory muscle endurance, and exercise performance (arm cranking maximal incremental test and simulated handbike time trial).

RESULTS

Resting lung function was not different between groups and did not change with the intervention. After RMET, the respiratory muscle endurance was significantly increased by 27% in the T group but did not alter in the C group. Final minute ventilation was increased from 89 ± 20 L/min to 112 ± 20 L/min after RMET in the T group and the sensation of dyspnea decreased (P < 0.05). Peak oxygen consumption, peak mechanical power output, and handbike time trial performance were not different between groups and did not change with the RMET intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

A short-term RMET intervention in handbike athletes with high lesion level paraplegia improved respiratory muscle endurance but had little impact on overall exercise performance.