STUDY DESIGN: Determination of fat oxidation at three different intensities in trained wheelchair athletes on the treadmill. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the level and highest rate of fat oxidation in endurance-trained wheelchair athletes for recommendation on endurance training. SETTING: Institute of Sports Medicine, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland. METHODS: Nine (seven men and two women) endurance-trained wheelchair athletes (VO(2peak) 40.2+/-6.7 ml/kg/min) were studied over 20 min at 55, 65 and 75% VO(2peak) on a treadmill in their own racing wheelchairs in order to find the exercise intensity with the highest absolute fat oxidation. RESULTS: As presumed, total energy expenditure for wheelchair racing was highest at 75% VO(2peak), while absolute fat oxidation was statistically not significantly different at the three tested intensities. Percentage of energy expenditure from fat oxidation decreased with increasing intensity from 31.4% at 55% VO(2peak) to 20.9% at 75% VO(2peak), while percentage from carbohydrate oxidation increased from 68.6% at 55% VO(2peak) to 79.1% at 75% VO(2peak). CONCLUSION: For wheelchair athletes, we recommend training of fat metabolism for endurance exercise at an intensity of 55% VO(2peak), because absolute fat metabolism is not higher at higher intensities but less carbohydrates are used at lower intensity levels. At lower intensities, exercise can be performed over a longer time before the emptied glycogen stores will limit exercise duration. This may apply especially to paraplegic subjects whose active muscle mass is limited in contrast to able-bodied athletes.
STUDY DESIGN: Determination of fat oxidation at three different intensities in trained wheelchair athletes on the treadmill. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the level and highest rate of fat oxidation in endurance-trained wheelchair athletes for recommendation on endurance training. SETTING: Institute of Sports Medicine, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland. METHODS: Nine (seven men and two women) endurance-trained wheelchair athletes (VO(2peak) 40.2+/-6.7 ml/kg/min) were studied over 20 min at 55, 65 and 75% VO(2peak) on a treadmill in their own racing wheelchairs in order to find the exercise intensity with the highest absolute fat oxidation. RESULTS: As presumed, total energy expenditure for wheelchair racing was highest at 75% VO(2peak), while absolute fat oxidation was statistically not significantly different at the three tested intensities. Percentage of energy expenditure from fat oxidation decreased with increasing intensity from 31.4% at 55% VO(2peak) to 20.9% at 75% VO(2peak), while percentage from carbohydrate oxidation increased from 68.6% at 55% VO(2peak) to 79.1% at 75% VO(2peak). CONCLUSION: For wheelchair athletes, we recommend training of fat metabolism for endurance exercise at an intensity of 55% VO(2peak), because absolute fat metabolism is not higher at higher intensities but less carbohydrates are used at lower intensity levels. At lower intensities, exercise can be performed over a longer time before the emptied glycogen stores will limit exercise duration. This may apply especially to paraplegic subjects whose active muscle mass is limited in contrast to able-bodied athletes.
Authors: Thomas Edwards; J P Barfield; Grace M Niemiro; Joseph W Beals; Elizabeth M Broad; Robert W Motl; Michael De Lisio; Nicholas A Burd; Lara A Pilutti Journal: Spinal Cord Ser Cases Date: 2018-08-14