Prediction of VO2peak in wheelchair-dependent athletes from the adapted Léger and Boucher test

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide a predictive peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) equation in wheelchair-dependent athletes using the Adapted Léger and Boucher test. Subjects and protocol: Fifty-six wheelchair-dependent athletes, 47 males and nine females (30.3 ± 4 years), underwent a clinical examination to assess their anthropometric characteristics: height, mass, body mass index (BMI), lean body mass, arm length, and muscular arm volume. They performed a deceleration field test to assess the subject-wheelchair resistance defined as a mechanical variable, and they then performed the Adapted Léger and Boucher test to assess physiological data at maximal exercise (VO2 peak, heart rate max) concomitantly with biomechanical (number of pushes) and performance variables (maximal aerobic velocity Vamax and maximal distance). The VO2 peak was measured directly using a portable telemetric oxygen analyzer. Subjects were then randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 49) to determine the predictive equation, and a validation group (n = 7) to check the external validity of the equation. Results: A stepwise multiple regression with VO2 peak (1 min-1) as the dependent variable led to the following equation: VO2 peak = 0.22 Vamax - 0.63 log(age) + 0.05 BMI 0.25 level + 0.52, with r2 = 0.81 and SEE = 0.01. Paraplegic subjects with high and low lesion level spinal injuries were attributed the coefficient of 1 and 0, respectively. The external validity of the equation was positive since the predicted VO2 peak values did not significantly differ from directly measured VO2 peak (P>0.05). Conclusion: We concluded that VO2 peak in wheelchair-dependent athletes was predictable using the equation of the present study and the described incremental test.