Increase of the endurance capacity on a paraplegic male athlete by handbike: a case study

Several authors have emphasized the importance of physical exercise and sport in people with Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) in order to maintain or improve adequate physical fitness levels. Some others also claim that higher fitness levels improve daily functioning and health status and, for SCI, physical training is an important part of the rehabilitation process, focused on reaching an optimal level of functional ability and independence. Among aerobic physical capacity measures, peak oxygen uptake and V’O2max are closely related to the level of function of biological systems. The aim of this case study is to give concrete indications about the possibility to improve the aerobic capacity, by using a hand bike with a active paraplegic athlete.