Criterion Validity of a Field-Based Assessment of Aerobic Capacity in Wheelchair Rugby Athletes

in International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

Click name to view affiliation

Vicky L. Goosey-Tolfrey
Search for other papers by Vicky L. Goosey-Tolfrey in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Sonja de Groot
Search for other papers by Sonja de Groot in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Keith Tolfrey
Search for other papers by Keith Tolfrey in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
Tom A.W. Paulson
Search for other papers by Tom A.W. Paulson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2020-0517
Keywords:
fitness testing; Paralympic; profiling; endurance
First Published Online:
02 Mar 2021
In Print:
Volume 16: Issue 9
Page Range:
1341–1346
Restricted access

Purpose: To confirm whether peak aerobic capacity determined during laboratory testing could be replicated during an on-court field-based test in wheelchair rugby players. Methods: Sixteen wheelchair rugby players performed an incremental speed-based peak oxygen uptake ( V ˙ O 2 peak ) test on a motorized treadmill (TM) and completed a multistage fitness test (MFT) on a basketball court in a counterbalanced order, while spirometric data were recorded. A paired t test was performed to check for systematic error between tests. A Bland–Altman plot for V ˙ O 2 peak illustrated the agreement between the TM and MFT results and how this related to the boundaries of practical equivalence. Results: No significant differences between mean V ˙ O 2 peak were reported (TM: 1.85 [0.63] vs MFT: 1.81 [0.63] L·min−1; P = .33). Bland–Altman plot for V ˙ O 2 peak suggests that the mean values are in good agreement at the group level; that is, the exact 95% confidence limits for the ratio systematic error (0.95–1.02) are within the boundaries of practical equivalence (0.88–1.13) showing that the group average TM and MFT values are interchangeable. However, consideration of the data at the level of the individual athlete suggests that the TM and MFT results were not interchangeable because the 95% ratio limits of agreement either coincide with the boundaries of practical equivalence (upper limit) or fall outside (lower limit). Conclusions: Results suggest that the MFT provides a suitable test at a group level with this cohort of wheelchair rugby players for the assessment of V ˙ O 2 peak (range 0.97–3.64 L·min–1), yet caution is noted for interchangeable use of values between tests for individual players.

Goosey-Tolfrey, Tolfrey, and Paulson are with The Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom. de Groot is with the Amsterdam Rehabilitation Research Center, Reade, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; the University Medical Center Groningen, Center of Human Movement Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; and the Dept of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Paulson is also with the English Inst of Sport (EIS), Loughborough Performance Centre, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom.

Goosey-Tolfrey (v.l.tolfrey@lboro.ac.uk) is corresponding author.
  • Collapse
  • Expand

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

Cover International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
  • 1.

    Mason BS, van der Woude LH, Goosey-Tolfrey VL. The ergonomics of wheelchair configuration for optimal performance in the wheelchair court sports. Sports Med. 2013;43(1):23–38. doi:10.1007/s40279-012-0005-x

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 2.

    Haydon DS, Pinder RA, Grimshaw PN, Robertson WSP. Test design and individual analysis in wheelchair rugby. J Sci Med Sport. 2018;21(12):1262–1267. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2018.04.001

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 3.

    Rhodes JM, Mason BS, Malone LA, Goosey-Tolfrey VL. Effect of team rank and player classification on activity profiles of elite wheelchair rugby players. J Sports Sci. 2015;33(19):2070–2078. doi:10.1080/02640414.2015.1028087

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 4.

    Rhodes JM, Mason BS, Perrat B, Smith MJ, Malone LA, Goosey-Tolfrey VL. Activity profiles of elite wheelchair rugby players during competition. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2015;10(3):318–324. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2014-0203

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 5.

    Goosey-Tolfrey VL, Leicht CA. Field-based physiological testing of wheelchair athletes. Sports Med. 2013;43(2):77–91. doi:10.1007/s40279-012-0009-6

  • 6.

    Paulson T, Goosey-Tolfrey V. Current perspectives on profiling and enhancing wheelchair court sport performance. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2017;12(3):275–286. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2016-0231

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 7.

    Goosey-Tolfrey V, Leicht C, Lenton J, Diaper N, Mason B. The BASES expert statement on assessment of exercise performance in athletes with a spinal cord injury. Sport Exerc Sci. 2013:(37):8–9.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 8.

    Leicht CA, Tolfrey K, Lenton JP, Bishop NC, Goosey-Tolfrey VL. The verification phase and reliability of physiological parameters in peak testing of elite wheelchair athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2013;113(2):337–345. doi:10.1007/s00421-012-2441-6

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 9.

    de Klerk R, Vegter RJK, Goosey-Tolfrey VL, et al. Measuring handrim wheelchair propulsion in the lab: a critical analysis of stationary ergometers. IEEE Rev Biomed Eng. 2020;13:199–211. doi:10.1109/RBME.2019.2942763

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 10.

    Faupin A, Campillo P, Weissland T, Gorce P, Thevenon A. The effects of rear-wheel camber on the mechanical parameters produced during the wheelchair sprinting of handibasketball athletes. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2004;41(3b):421–428. doi:10.1682/JRRD.2003.04.0050

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 11.

    Leicht CA, Bishop NC, Goosey-Tolfrey VL. Submaximal exercise responses in tetraplegic, paraplegic and non spinal cord injured elite wheelchair athletes. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2012;22(6):729–736. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0838.2011.01328.x

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 12.

    de Groot S, Valent LJ, Fickert R, Pluim BM, Houdijk H. An incremental shuttle wheel test for wheelchair tennis players. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2016;11(8):1111–1114. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2015-0598

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 13.

    Vinet A, Bernard PL, Poulain M, Varray A, Le Gallais D, Micallef JP. Validation of an incremental field test for the direct assessment of peak oxygen uptake in wheelchair-dependent athletes. Spinal Cord. 1996;34(5):288–293. doi:10.1038/sc.1996.52

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 14.

    Goosey-Tolfrey VL, Tolfrey K. The multi-stage fitness test as a predictor of endurance fitness in wheelchair athletes. J Sports Sci. 2008;26(5):511–517. doi:10.1080/02640410701624531

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 15.

    Vanderthommen M, Francaux M, Colinet C, et al. A multistage field test of wheelchair users for evaluation of fitness and prediction of peak oxygen consumption. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2002;39:685–692.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 16.

    Weissland T, Faupin A, Borel B, Berthoin S, Lepretre PM. Effects of modified multistage field test on performance and physiological responses in wheelchair basketball players. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:245378. doi:10.1155/2015/245378

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 17.

    Gil-Agudo A, Del Ama-Espinosa A, Perez-Rizo E, Perez-Nombela S, Pablo Rodriguez-Rodriguez L. Upper limb joint kinetics during manual wheelchair propulsion in patients with different levels of spinal cord injury. J Biomech. 2010;43(13):2508–2515. doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2010.05.021

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 18.

    West CR, Goosey-Tolfrey VL, Campbell IG, Romer LM. Effect of abdominal binding on respiratory mechanics during exercise in athletes with cervical spinal cord injury. J Appl Physiol. 2014;117(1):36–45. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00218.2014

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 19.

    West CR, Leicht CA, Goosey-Tolfrey VL, Romer LM. Perspective: Does laboratory-based maximal incremental exercise testing elicit maximum physiological responses in highly-trained athletes with cervical spinal cord injury? Front Physiol. 2015;6:419.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 20.

    Borg GA. Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1982;14:377–381.

  • 21.

    Hartung GH, Lally DA, Blancq RJ. Comparison of treadmill exercise testing protocols for wheelchair users. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1993;66(4):362–365. doi:10.1007/BF00237783

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 22.

    Mason B, Lenton J, Leicht C, Goosey-Tolfrey V. A physiological and biomechanical comparison of over-ground, treadmill and ergometer wheelchair propulsion. J Sports Sci. 2014;32(1):78–91. doi:10.1080/02640414.2013.807350

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 23.

    Ramsbottom R, Brewer J, Williams C. A progressive shuttle run test to estimate maximal oxygen uptake. Br J Sports Med. 1988;22(4):141–144. doi:10.1136/bjsm.22.4.141

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 24.

    Carkeet A. Exact parametric confidence intervals for Bland-Altman limits of agreement. Optom Vis Sci. 2015;92(3):e71–e80. doi:10.1097/OPX.0000000000000513

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 25.

    Leicht CA, Tolfrey K, Lenton JP, Bishop NC, Goosey-Tolfrey VL. Erratum: The verification phase and reliability of physiological parameters in peak testing of elite wheelchair athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2013;113(2):347. doi:10.1007/s00421-012-2546-y

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 26.

    Leicht CA, Griggs KE, Lavin J, Tolfrey K, Goosey-Tolfrey VL. Blood lactate and ventilatory thresholds in wheelchair athletes with tetraplegia and paraplegia. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2014;114(8):1635–1643. doi:10.1007/s00421-014-2886-x

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 27.

    Poulain M, Vinet A, Bernard PL, Varray A. Reproducibility of the adapted Leger and Boucher test for wheelchair-dependent athletes. Spinal Cord. 1999;37(2):129–135. doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3100774

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 28.

    Vanlandewijck Y, van de Vliet P, Verellen J, Theisen D. Determinants of shuttle run performance in the prediction of peak VO2 in wheelchair users. Disabil Rehabil. 2006;28(20):1259–1266. doi:10.1080/09638280600554769

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 29.

    Lenton JP, Fowler NE, van der Woude L, Goosey-Tolfrey VL. Wheelchair propulsion: effects of experience and push strategy on efficiency and perceived exertion. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2008;33(5):870–879. doi:10.1139/H08-072

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 30.

    van der Scheer JW, de Groot S, Vegter RJ, Veeger DH, van der Woude LH. Can a 15m-overground wheelchair sprint be used to assess wheelchair-specific anaerobic work capacity? Med Eng Phys. 2014;36(4):432–438. doi:10.1016/j.medengphy.2014.01.003

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 31.

    Haydon DS, Pinder RA, Grimshaw PN, Robertson WSP. Wheelchair rugby chair configurations: an individual, robust design approach. Sports Biomech. 2019:1–16. doi:10.1080/14763141.2019.1649451

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 1932 698 23
Full Text Views 45 14 3
PDF Downloads 62 17 3