Barfield, J. P., Malone, L. A., Collins, J. M., & Ruble, S. B. (2005). Disability type influences heart rate response during power wheelchair sport. Med Sci Sports Exerc., 37(5): 718-23.

This study was designed with the primary purpose of examining the influence of disability type on heart rate (HR) response during competitive power soccer competition. The secondary purpose was to compare HR response during competition to cardio-respiratory fitness training for the general population. Forty eight power soccer players ages 8 to 55 years were recruited in this nonrandomized trial with pre-test, post-test design. The sample of volunteers included 31 individuals with CP, 10 with spinal cord injury (SCI), and 7 with muscular dystrophy (MD). Individuals wore a HR monitor to record HR through pregame and game conditions as well as peak HR, HR range, and HR response. The authors found a significant difference in HR response between the groups. The median HR response for subjects with CP was 12 beats per minute (bpm) higher (29 bpm) than subjects with SCI (17 bpm), which was a significant difference. Twenty two subjects with CP (71%) exceeded the fitness training threshold for at least 30 minutes and 19 of these 22 exceeded the fitness threshold for the entire 50-minute game. Five subjects with MD (71%) and one subject with cervical SCI (10%) exceeded the fitness threshold for 30 minutes. The authors found that disability type influences the HR of athletes during power soccer competition and revealed that athletes with CP recorded higher HR responses than athletes with SCI. This may suggest that there are increased activity demands for athletes with CP compared to those with SCI.

For the full abstract, go to http://www.ncpad.org/640/3951/Disability~Type~Influences~Heart~Rate~Response~During~
Power~Wheelchair~Sport.