Assessement of Cardiovascular Fitness In Wheelchair Rugby Athletes: Validation Of The 8-loop Field Test Assessment of Cardiovascular fitness in Wheelchair Rugby Athletes: Validation of the 8-loop FIELD test Kristian O. Nielsen1, William J. Bond IV1, Peter Henriksen1,2, Tina Junge1,2, Ulrik Frandsen1, Per Aagaard1 1 University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; 2 University College Lillebælt, Odense, Denmark In wheelchair Rugby (WCR), the existence of large differences in disability level complicates utilizing traditional uniform test procedures among different WCR athletes. To date, no field tests measuring VO2-peak directly exist for the sport of wheelchair rugby. Thus, a strong need exist to establish valid and standardized, yet individually adjustable testing procedures to evaluate cardiovascular function and physiological mobility capacity in WCR. PURPOSE: The present study aimed to develop an incremental field test (‘8-loop’) for WCR athletes, regardless of classification and disability, that involved continuous recording of progressive and maximum cardiovascular data, using an on-court standardized wheelchair exercise protocol. METHODS: Ten National Team male WCR athletes (31.2 years) were tested, comprising 7 athletes with tetraplegia, 1 with cerebral palsy, 1 with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Type 2 disease and 1 with lower limb amputations. All WCR classes were represented. An incremental 8-loop field test was performed to voluntary exhaustion to determine VO2-peak. The indoor test track consisted of a standardized 8-form (total length 226.2 m). During the test, progressive increases in lap velocity were indicated by sound signals to the athletes until failure to complete a lap within the intended lap time. Test validity was evaluated by direct measurements (Oxycon Mobile) of VO2 and RER during all laps performed. Furthermore, heart-rate (HR) progression was recorded throughout the test, and blood lactate concentration ([La], earlobe) was measured 2 minutes after test completion. RESULTS: During the 8-loop test, a VO2-peak of 2014.4 ml/min ± 987.9 (mean±SD), RER 1.11 ± 0.15, HRpeak 143.8 BPM ± 26.4 and [La] of 4.1 mmol/L ± 1.7 were measured. VO2-peak (r2=0.83, p<0.01) and HRpeak (r2=0.78, p<0.01) were strongly correlated to the number of stages (Laps) completed in the 8-loop test. CONCLUSION: Strong linear relationships were observed between the 8-loop test outcome (number of stages/laps completed) and the physiological variables obtained (VO2-peak, HR), which suggest that a high validity exist for this field test, when applied in elite wheelchair rugby athletes. Test-retest reliability of the 8-loop test should be evaluated in future studies. Kristian O. Nielsen1, William J. Bond, IV1, Peter Henriksen2, Tina Junge2, Ulrik Frandsen1, Per Aagaard1 1Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, 2University College Lillebælt, Odense, Denmark Fig.1 Relationships between time to exhaustion (stage number) and physiological performance parameters Results During the 8-loop test, a VO2peak of 2014.4 ml/min ± 987.9 (mean±SD), RER 1.11 ± 0.15, HRpeak 143.8 BPM ± 26.4 and [La] of 4.1 mmol/L ± 1.7 were measured. VO2peak (r2=0.83, p<0.01, Fig. 1A), HRpeak (r2=0.78, p<0.01, Fig. 1B) and VEpeak (r2=0,64, p<0.01, Fig. 1C) were strongly related to the number of stages (Laps) completed in the 8-loop test. r2 = 0.829 (p<0.01) r2 = 0.784 (p<0.05) r2 = 0.644 (p<0.05) Introduction In wheelchair Rugby (WCR), the existence of large differences in disability level complicates utilizing traditional uniform test procedures among different WCR athletes. To date, no field tests estimating maximal oxygen uptake rate (VO2peak) exist for the sport of wheelchair rugby. Thus, a strong need exist to establish valid and standardized, yet individually adjustable testing procedures to evaluate cardiovascular function and physiological mobility capacity in WCR. Previous studies show that field testing of wheelchair athletes is favorable compared to laboratory testing. The present study aimed to develop an incremental field test (‘8-loop’) for WCR athletes, regardless of classification and disability, that involved continuous recording of progressive and maximum cardiovascular data, using an on-court standardized wheelchair exercise protocol. VO2peak HRpeak VEpeak 100 m Discussion The present field test demonstrated a strong positive relationship between VO2peak and end-stage number ( total distance covered). Previous comparable tests have failed to show similar relationship between these two parameters (1,2). Lap distances covered during the 8-loop test exceeds distances covered in high-intensity actions during actual gameplay (3). However, the length of the track was chosen in order to keep breaking-acceleration sequences to a minimum and to promote as high intensity as possible. Starting velocities differed between classification groups in order to secure a minimum and maximum duration of the test. Earlier studies determined a range of arbitrary speed zones dedicated to classification groups (3). Our starting velocities falls well within the category of low-speed zones of all classification groups. Furthermore, the ‘very high’ speed zone (>95% VO2peak) speed for the lowest classification group (10.2 km/t) coincide with the velocity that our present 0.5 WCR athletes were able to reach at test completion (10.2 km/t). CONCLUSION Strong positive relationships between 8-loop test outcome and physiological capacity were observed, suggesting that a high validity may exist for the 8-loop field test when applied in elite wheelchair rugby athletes. Figure 1A: Correlation between VO2peak and end stage reached (test duration) during the 8-loop test. Figure 1B: Correlation between HRpeak and end stage reached (test duration) during the 8-loop test. Figure 1C: Correlation between VEpeak and end stage reached (test duration) during the 8-loop test. Materials & Methods Ten National Team male WCR athletes (31.2 years) were tested, comprising 7 athletes with tetraplegia, 1 with cerebral palsy, 1 with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Type 2 disease and 1 with lower limb amputations. All WCR classes were represented. An incremental 8-loop field test was performed to voluntary exhaustion to determine VO2peak. The indoor test track consisted of a standardized 8-form (Fig. 3, total length 226.2 m). During the test, progressive increases in lap velocity were indicated by loud acoustic signals to the athletes until failure to complete a lap within the intended lap time. Initial velocity was determined by WCR classification (“high point” athletes: 2.5-3.5; “low point” athletes: 0.5-2.0). Test validity was evaluated by continuous measurements of VO2 and pulmonary Ventilation (VE) (Oxycon Mobile) during all laps performed. The equipment was worn on the athletes chest or back (Fig. 2). Heart-rate (HR) was recorded continously, and blood lactate concentration ([La], ear-lobe) was measured 2 minutes after test completion ('exhaustion'). Fig.2 Test equipment Fig.3 Overview of 8-loop test track References [1] Vanderthommen, M., et. al, 2002, Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 39 (6), [2] Weissland, T., et. al., 2015, Frontiers in Physiology, 6 [3] Rhodes, J. M., et al, 2015 International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 10 (3) Wheel Chair Rugby athlete with the Oxycon Mobile equipment placed on the back.