Article

OBJECTIVES: To analyze exercise intensity
during a mountain time trial in handcycling and to determine predictors of race
time. SETTING: Eight Dutch rehabilitation centers and Austrian mountain. METHODS:
Forty participants with spinal cord injury (SCI; high lesion level (>T6): N=11;
low lesion level (T6): N=29) handcycled a 20.2-km mountain time trial. Heart rate
(HR) was monitored in 17 (high: N=5, low: N=12) participants during the race to
determine exercise intensity, expressed relative to the heart rate reserve
(%HRR). Two weeks before the race all participants completed laboratory tests to
measure anthropometrics and peak values for power output (POpeak), oxygen uptake
(VO2peak) and HR. RESULTS: Mean race time was 4 h and 1 min (s.d.: 1 h and 24
min), with no difference in race time between lesion groups. Mean exercise
intensity during the race was 70+/-7%HRR. Exercise was mainly (73% of the race
time) at a vigorous intensity (60-89%HRR), with 29% of the total time in the
80-89%HRR zone. No clear differences were found in exercise intensities between
lesion groups. The strongest predictors for better race times were higher mean
%HRR during race (R(2)=57%), lower waist circumference (R(2)=39%), higher POpeak
(R(2)=39%) and VO2peak (R(2)=32%). CONCLUSION: A 20-km mountain time trial in a
handcycle is intensive. Faster race times were achieved by those with a lower
waist circumference, greater fitness level and ability to perform at higher
average exercise intensities during the race. Level of SCI was not significantly
associated with race time.

Langue : ANGLAIS