Report

Does an abdominal binder improve performance in athletes with tetraplegia?

The following studies explored whether elastic binding of the abdomen i) influences respiratory mechanics during wheelchair propulsion and ii) improves field-based measures of fitness in highly-trained individuals with cervical SCI.

Lead academic:
Professor Vicky Tolfrey
Additional academics:
Dr Barry Mason
Funder:
The Peter Harrison Foundation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) elicits a lesion-dependent impairment in cardiorespiratory function that may conspire to limit exercise performance. Abdominal binding improves resting cardiorespiratory function in individuals with cervical SCI.

Methods

Study 1

  • 8 Wheelchair Rugby players with motor-complete SCI (C5-C7) performed submaximal and maximal incremental exercise tests on a treadmill, both with and without abdominal binding.
  • Measurements included pulmonary function, pressure-derived indices of respiratory mechanics, operating lung volumes, tidal flow-volume data, gas exchange, blood lactate, and symptoms.

Study 2

  • 10 Wheelchair Rugby players with traumatic SCI (C5-C7) completed four experimental trials both with and without abdominal binding.
  • Performance was assessed using i) the time taken to complete an agility test and an acceleration/deceleration test; ii) the gross efficiency of wheelchair propulsion and the peak-power/ the propulsion kinematics of a 30 s Wingate test; iii) the fatigue index of a 10 x 20 m repeated push test and iv) the distance covered and the metabolic/ perceptual responses to two maximal 4-min pushes.

Main findings and application

  • Abdominal binding shifts tidal breathing to lower lung volumes without influencing flow limitation, symptoms, or exercise tolerance.
  • Changes in respiratory mechanics with binding may benefit oxygen transport capacity through an improvement in central circulatory function.
  • Selected measures of field-based fitness were also improved with binding.
  • Abdominal binding did not alter push kinematics which suggests that athletes can utilize the benefits of abdominal binding without altering their push technique.

Reference 

West, C., Goosey-Tolfrey, V.L., Campbell, I.G. and Romer, L.M. (2014). Effect of abdominal binding on respiratory mechanics during exercise in athletes with cervical spinal cord injury. Journal of Applied Physiology. 117(1): 36-45. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00218.2014.
 
West, C., Campbell, I.G., Mason, B., Goosey-Tolfrey, V.L. and Romer, L.M. (2014). Effect of an abdominal binder on measures of field-based fitness in Paralympic wheelchair rugby players. Australian Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 17(4): 351-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2013.06.001