Muscle strength and aerobic power - a study of lower-limb disabled males

Abstract

The relationship between arm strength and aerobic power (VO₂ peak) was examined in 35 lower-limb disabled males. Equations related predicted VO₂ peak to simple measurements of isokinetic and/or static strength. Covariance analysis (ANCOVA) showed that after allowance for level of habitual activity and lesion level there was a highly significant relationship between VO₂ peak and simple strength measurements (greater for isokinetic than for static data). The findings suggest that in the wheelchair-bound the extent to which arm strength is developed has more impact upon cardiovascular performance than does the anatomical level of the lesion.

Key Words:

• Aerobic power
• Muscular strength
• Paraplegia
• Physical disability