A case study of a female ultramarathon wheelchair road user

Abstract

This unique report contains selected physical and structural characteristics of a female ultramarathon wheelchair road racer. When tested, this 25-year-old athlete weighed 65.6 kilograms, with a height of 171.4 centimetres. The resting heart rate was 57 beats per minute, which rose to a maximum of 161 during a progressive, arm-cranking, maximal work task. Maximum oxygen uptake was 21.0 ml × kg-1 × min-1. These values are significant, considering that this individual had traumatic paraplegia at the T-3/T-4 spinal level. She also had slight weakness of the upper extremities. It is suggested that with a graduated and intelligently structured training programme, greatly enhanced endurance capacity can be achieved. With the type of training outlined in this paper, an athlete who performs in a wheelchair can be conditioned to race successfully over distances of 26 to 50 miles. © 1986 International Medical Society of Paraplegia.