Exercise Intensity During Power Wheelchair Soccer.

OBJECTIVE

To determine exercise intensity during power wheelchair soccer among a sample of persons with mobility impairments.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional descriptive.

SETTING

On-site training facilities of multiple power wheelchair soccer teams.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants with severe mobility impairments (N=30) (mean ± SD, age: 29.40±15.51y, body mass index: 24.11±6.47kg/m, power soccer experience: 7.91±3.93y, disability sport experience: 12.44±9.73y) were recruited from multiple power wheelchair soccer teams.

INTERVENTIONS

Portable metabolic carts were used to collect oxygen consumption (V˙o) data during resting and game play conditions.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Average V˙o (expressed in metabolic equivalent tasks [METs]) during resting and game play conditions and rating of perceived exertion for game play.

RESULTS

V˙o increased from 1.35±0.47 METs at rest to 1.81±0.65 METs during game play. This 34% increase in exercise intensity was significant (P<.01) and supported by a mean perceived exertion score of approximately 13 (somewhat hard).

CONCLUSIONS

Although not able to sustain an intensity associated with reduced secondary disease risk (ie, 3 METs), the documented light-intensity exercise in the current study surpassed an intensity threshold associated with improved functional capacity and performance of daily living activities (ie, 1.5 METs).