The LMT using a heart rate-based protocol is a reproducible method of assessing HR at an exercise intensity where an equilibrium exists between blood lactate accumulation and elimination.
Study design: Prospective, experimental study. Objective: To investigate whether the heart rate (HR) at lactate minimum (LMHR)determined by means of a HR-guided lactate minimum test (LMT) corresponds to the HR at maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) in wheelchair-racing athletes. Setting: Institute of Sports Medicine. Methods: Eight well-trained wheelchair-racing athletes (mean age: 33±12 years; height: 169±12 cm; body mass: 59±11 kg; . VO 2peak : 2.76 ± 0.73 l min À1 ) completed a HR-guided LMT on a treadmill in their own racing wheelchair. Subsequently, exercise intensity at MLSS and corresponding HR were determined by means of several endurance tests on different days. Results: All measured parameters (HR, speed, blood lactate, oxygen consumption and rating of perceived exertion) revealed significantly higher values at MLSS compared with values at lactate minimum (LM). However, there were highly significant correlations (r¼0.914, P¼0.002) between LMHR and HR at MLSS (163 ± 6 versus 172 ± 7 b.p.m.) as well as for speed (r¼0.935, P¼0.001) and blood lactate (r¼0.944, Po0.001) at LM versus MLSS. The correlation for oxygen consumption (r¼0.798, P¼0.018) at LM versus MLSS was lower yet significant. Conclusions: There exists a close relationship between LMHR and HR at MLSS in wheelchair racing. This allows the prediction of MLSS based on a single exercise test in this special group of athletes. For practical use during daily training, routine HR at MLSS can be assumed to be 8-9 b.p.m. above the LMHRin wheelchair-racing athletes.
A high percentage of vitamin D deficiency was found among Swiss elite wheelchair athletes. Conclusively, we recommend supplementation with vitamin D-especially during winter-to prevent a deficiency and an impairment of performance.
BackgroundThe aim of this study was to assess airway hyperresponsiveness to eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation and dry powder mannitol challenge in athletes aiming to participate at the Paralympic Games 2008 in Beijing, especially in athletes with spinal cord injury.MethodsForty-four athletes with a disability (27 with paraplegia (group 1), 3 with tetraplegia (group 2) and 14 with other disabilities such as blindness or single limb amputations (group 3) performed spirometry, skin prick testing, measurement of exhaled nitric oxide, eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation challenge test (EVH) and mannitol challenge test (MCT). A fall in FEV1 of ≥10% in either challenge test was deemed positive for exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.ResultsFourteen (32%) athletes were atopic and 7 (16%) had a history of physician-diagnosed asthma. Absolute lung function values were significantly lower in patients of group 1 and 2 compared to group 3. Nine (20%) athletes were positive to EVH (8 paraplegics, 1 tetraplegic), and 8 (18%) athletes were positive to MCT (7 paraplegics, 1 tetraplegic). Fourteen (22.7%) subjects were positive to at least one challenge; only three athletes were positive to both tests. None of the athletes in group 3 had a positive test. Both challenge tests showed a significant association with physician-diagnosed asthma status (p = 0.0001). The positive and negative predictive value to diagnose physician-diagnosed asthma was 89% and 91% for EHV, and 75% and 86% for MCT, respectively.ConclusionEVH and MCT can be used to identify, but especially exclude asthma in Paralympic athletes.
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