Strength and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) for each leg were compared in a trained multiple sclerosis (MS) patient with exertional left monoparesis. Left quadriceps strength and left leg VO2max were 22% and 30% lower, respectively, compared to the right (control) leg. Because the same O2 delivery system served each leg during exercise, VO2max of the paretic leg was not limited by cardiorespiratory factors but rather by strength and/or muscle oxidative capacity. However, training with monoparesis likely enhanced O2 extraction and aerobic work capacity of the right leg.
American College of Sports Medicine . ACSM’s guidelines for exercise testing and prescription, 6th Edition. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins , 2000.
2.
McArdle WD , Katch FI , Katch VL.Essentials of exercise physiology. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger , 1994.
3.
Mostert S , Kesselring J.Effects of a short-term exercise training program on aerobic fitness, fatigue, health perception and activity level of subjects with multiple sclerosis . Mult Scler2002; 8: 161-168 .
4.
Romberg A , Virtanen A , Aunola S , Karppi S-L , Karanko H , Ruutiainen J.Exercise capacity, disability and leisure physical activity of subjects with multiple sclerosis . Mult Scler2004; 10: 212-218 .
5.
Green HJ , Ballantyne CS , MacDougall JD , Tarnopolsky MA , Schertzer JD.Adaptations in human muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum to prolonged submaximal training . J Appl Physiol2003; 94: 2034-2042 .
6.
Hogan MC , Roca J , West JB , Wagner PD.Dissociation of maximal O2 uptake from O2 delivery in canine gastrocnemius in situ . J Appl Physiol1989; 66: 1219-1226 .
7.
Kent-Braun JA , Ng AV , Castro MW , Weimer D , Gelinas GA , Dudley Get al.Strength, skeletal muscle composition, and enzyme activity in multiple sclerosis . J Appl Physiol1997; 83: 1998-2004 .
8.
Kent-Braun JA , Sharma KR , Weiner MW , Miller RG.Effects of exercise on muscle activation and metabolism in multiple sclerosis . Muscle Nerve1994; 17: 1162-1169 .
9.
Lewis SF , Taylor WF , Graham RM , Pettinger WA , Schutte JE , Blomqvist CG.Cardiovascular responses to exercise as functions of absolute and relative work load . J Appl Physiol1983; 54: 1314-1323 .
10.
Melissa L , MacDougall JD , Tarnopolsky MA , Cipriano N , Green HJ.Skeletal muscle adaptations to training under normobaric hypoxic versus normoxic conditions . Med Sci Sports Exerc1997; 29: 238-243 .
