Peak V̇O2 during handcycling in spinal cord injured athletes: incremental versus verification testing

The present study aimed to compare peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak), peak heart rate (HRpeak) and peak O2 pulse during an incremental and a verification test performed on the same day in hand-cyclists with spinal cord injury (SCI). Eight competitive SCI hand-cyclists (age: 23 ± 2.7 years; V̇O2peak: 36.3 ± 14.0 ml.kg-1.min-1) performed a maximal incremental handcycling test and a verification test to exhaustion at 100% of the peak speed on an oversized treadmill. The V̇O2peak, HRpeak and peak O2pulse (i.e. VO2/HR) were compared between incremental and verification tests. Absolute and relative V̇O2peak obtained in the verification test (2.51 ± 0.96 l.min-1; 36.3 ± 14.0 ml.kg.min-1) were significantly higher than values obtained in the incremental test (2.24 ± 0.79 l.min-1; 33.5 ± 12.9 ml.kg.min-1; P < 0.05). The mean difference (95%CL) of absolute and relative V̇O2peak between tests were 8.2% (3.3 to 13.2%) and 10.9% (4.3 to 18.1%), respectively. There was no difference in HRpeak (Incremental: 169 ± 24 bpm; Verification 167 ± 25 bpm; P = 0.130). Peak O2pulse from the verification test (14.6 ± 4.7 ml.beat−1) was higher than incremental test (13.0 ± 3.8 ml.beat−1; P = 0.007). In conclusion, the verification test elicited greater V̇O2peak and O2pulse than a two-phase incremental test despite the similar HRpeak. This indicate that for this progressive protocol lasting ≥ 25 minutes, the verification phase adds value to determining V̇O2peak in SCI athletes.