Longitudinal changes in physical capacity over 20 years in athletes with spinal cord injury.

Shiba, Sumiko; Okawa, Hiroyuki; Uenishi, Hiroyasu; Koike, Yumi; Yamauchi, Katuya; Asayama, Ko; Nakamura, Taro; Tajima, Fumihiro · Arch Phys Med Rehabil · 2010

prospective_cohort · Level II

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Abstract

To investigate the longitudinal changes in physical capacity over 20 years in athletes with spinal cord injury (SCI). Longitudinal study (20-y follow-up). Laboratory setting. Persons with SCI (N=7). Not applicable. Maximum oxygen consumption Vo(2)max) measured in 1986-1988 and in 2006. Subjects with SCI maintained stable Vo(2)max in 2006. Six of the 7 continued various wheelchair sports activities, while 1 person quit sports activities 1 year after the baseline study. The latter person showed reduced Vo(2)max by 53%, while 2 persons who continued strenuous wheelchair sports activities showed increased Vo(2)max by 43% and 45% after 20 years. The results indicated that physical capacity reflected the level of sports activity in subjects with SCI who maintained sports activities.

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