Objective

Evaluations of physical fitness and efficiency to wheelchair propulsion are common in rehabilitation center. The multistage field test (MFT) was developed for wheelchair users and predicts the peak value of oxygen consumption VO 2 peak = 18.03 + 0.78 × MFT score , independently of their impairment . In an earlier study, we did not find significant difference between VO ₂ peak estimated by the Vanderthommen’s formula and measured VO ₂ peak of trained wheelchair basketball players.

Material/patients and methods

Comparatively to wheelchair basketball, the athlete’s cardio-respiratory and muscular limitations are greater higher in wheelchair rugby. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare the measured VO 2 peak with ambulatory analyzer with its predicted value according the MFT score. Twelve elite wheelchair rugby players (all are members in French team, 6.1 ± 2.1 years training duration, 1.7 ± 0.9 points according to international classification) performed MFT in their competitive wheelchair. VO 2 peak were measured with a Metamax 3B ambulatory system and also calculated from the end-MFT scores.

Results

A significant correlation between both VO 2 peak values was found ( r = 0.96; R ² = 0.91; P < 0.0001) and no significant difference between VO 2 peak values measured and estimated (28.7 ± 13.6 vs. 27.9 ± 3.4 mL/min/kg; P = 0.66). Bland–Altman plot revealed a poor agreement [–21.6 to 20.1 in mL/min/kg] (mean bias of –0.79, i. e., 72%) between both VO 2 peak values. Player classification was significantly correlated with VO 2 peak measured ( r = 0.87, R ² = 0.75; P < 0.0001).

Discussion–conclusion

Players ranked to high and low limits of the international classification (close to 1 or 3 points) have predicted VO 2 peak outside of the 95% limits of Bland–Altman plot agreement. The different etiologies presented in the population (tetraplegia, amputee, cerebral palsy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease) can explain the magnitude of the cardiorespiratory responses. Considering these limitations, with no technical equipment, MFT provides an estimate of physical fitness to elite wheelchair players.