Summary
The purpose of this investigation was to compare cardiac output (\(\dot Q\) c ) in paraplegic subjects (P) with wheelchair-confined control subjects (C) at high intensities of arm exercise. At low and moderate exercise intensity\(\dot Q\) c was the same at a given oxygen uptake (\(\dot V\)O2) in P and C. A group of 11 athletic male P with complete spinal-cord lesions between T6 and T12 and a group of 5 well-matched athletic male C performed maximal arm-cranking exercise and submaximal exercise at 50%, 70% and 80% of each individual's maximal power output (Wmax) . Maximal\(\dot V\)O2 (\(\dot V\)O2max) was significantly lower,\(\dot V\)O2max per kilogram body mass was equal and maximal heart rate (f c) was significantly higher in P compared to C. At\(\dot V\)O2 of 1.3, 1.5 and 1.7 1-min−1, and for P 65%–90% of the\(\dot V\)O2max,\(\dot Q\) c was not significantly different between the groups, although,\(\dot Q\) c in P was achieved with a significantly lower stroke volume (SV) and a significantly higherf c. Although the SV was lower in P, it followed the same pattern as SV in C during incremental exercise, i.e. an increase in SV until about 45%W max and thereafter a stable SV. The similar\(\dot Q\) c at a given\(\dot V\)O2 in both groups indicated that, even at high exercise intensities, circulation in P can be considered isokinetic with a complete compensation byf c for a lower SV.
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T. E. Hopman, M., Pistorius, M., C. E. Kamerbeek, I. et al. Cardiac output in paraplegic subjects at high exercise intensities. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 66, 531–535 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00634305
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00634305