Influence of posture on arm exercise tolerance and physiologic responses in persons with spinal cord injured paraplegia.

This study compared metabolic and cardiopulmonary responses to incremental supine and upright sitting arm crank ergometry (ACE) in nine men with spinal cord injured paraplegia ranging from T1-T5. Both tests consisted of continuous graded ACE from rest to volitional fatigue on a modified electronically braked cycle ergometer with the work rate increased by 8.2 W.min-1. No significant differences (P > 0.05) existed for peak ACE power output (W), oxygen uptake, pulmonary ventilation, respiratory exchange ratio, and O2 pulse between the two tests. Heart rate and O2 pulse responses at six submaximal work rates representing 0-58% peak W were also not significantly different between postures. These data indicate that ACE tolerance in persons with high-lesion paraplegia was not enhanced when ACE was performed in the supine posture.