Aquatic, deep water peak VO2 testing for individuals with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To determine the reliability of peak VO2 testing for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) in deep water and on land; and to examine the relationship between these two testing conditions. Design: Reliability study. Setting: Comprehensive rehabilitation center in Baltimore, MD, USA. Participants: 17 participants (13 men, 4 women) with motor complete and incomplete SCI. Participants were randomized into either aquatic or arm cycle ergometer first measurements. Intervention: Pilot study to assess peak VO2. Outcome measures: Peak VO2 measured with metabolic cart in supported deep water with the addition of Aquatrainer® connection, and on land with arm cycle ergometer. Two trials were conducted for each condition with 48 h separating each test. Results: Peak oxygen consumption reliability was statistically significant for both conditions, aquatic (r = 0.93, P < 0.001) and arm cycle ergometry (r = 0.96, P < 0.001). Additionally, aquatic and arm cycle peak VO2 correlation existed (r = 0.72, P < 0.001). For these 17 participants, lower extremity motor score influenced supported, deep water peak VO2, B = 0.57, P < 0.02, whereas age, sex, and weight did not impact deep water or ergometer values. Conclusion: Determining peak VO2 for individuals with SCI is highly reproducible for arm cycle ergometry and in deep water assessment. Additionally, aquatic, deep water peak VO2 testing is valid when compared to arm cycle ergometry. Although the peak VO2 relationship between deep water and arm cycle ergometry is high, variance in the two conditions does exist. Therefore, it is important to assess peak VO2 via the same exercise modality utilized in the treatment intervention.

Functional Movement Screen™ and history of injury in the assessment of potential risk of injury among team handball players.

BACKGROUND: Handball is known to be one of the team sports representing the highest risk of injury. Several investigators have tried to identify injury risk factors in team sports including handball and suggested the need to develop an optimal tool to capture and quantify the potential risk of injury. The aim of the study was to evaluate potential risk of injury among handball players. METHODS: This was a mixed-design study. Handball players from 1st and 2nd division were evaluated (N.=30) using the Functional Movement Screen™ (FMS™). Additionally, self-reported history of injury was collected during FMS™ evaluation and after 6 months. Competitive level, training experience, playing position, anthropometric features, symmetry of movement patterns and history of previous injury were analyzed while assessing the potential risk of injury. RESULTS: Significant difference between the right and left side (upper limb) was revealed for Shoulder Mobility Test (U=308.5, P=0.014). Odds Ratio analysis revealed that having previous injury in the last 12 months is the only statistically significant injury risk factor (OR=13.71, P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Based on this study we can assume that previous injury history reports are crucial in predicting injuries. FMS™ can help in identifying a typical adaptation in throwing shoulder among handball players, but should not be used alone to assess injury risk.