{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.05328135152696556, 'fraction_numerical': 0.03898635477582846, 'mean_word_length': 4.661764705882353, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Effects of Respiratory Muscle Endurance Training on Wheelchair Racing Performance in Athletes With Paraplegia: A Pilot Study

Objective:Respiratory muscle endurance training (RMET) has been shown to improve both respiratory muscle and cycling exercise endurance in able-bodied subjects. Since effects of RMET on upper extremity exercise performance have not yet been investigated, we evaluated the effects of RMET on 10-km time-trial performance in wheelchair racing athletes. Design:Pilot study, controlled before and after trial. Setting:Spinal cord injury research center. Participants:12 competitive wheelchair racing athletes. Interventions:The training group performed 30 sessions of RMET for 30 min each. The control group did no respiratory muscle training. Main Outcome Measurements:Differences in 10-km time-trial performance pre- versus postintervention. Results:In the training group, the time of the 10-km time-trial decreased significantly from before versus after intervention (27.1 ± 9.0 vs. 24.1 ± 6.6 min); this did not occur in the control group (23.3 ± 2.8 vs. 23.2 ± 2.4 min). No between groups difference was present (P = 0.150). Respiratory muscle endurance increased significantly within the training group (9.1 ± 7.2 vs. 39.9 ± 17.8 min) and between groups, but not within the control group (4.3 ± 2.9 vs. 6.6 ± 7.0 min) before versus after intervention. Conclusion:There was a strong trend, with a large observed effect size of d = 0.87, towards improved performance in the 10-km time-trial after 6 weeks of RMET.