Strength Training With Eccentric Arm-cranking in Para-athletes (KREHA-ParAth)

The new training device, the eccentric arm-crank, will be examined for its training effects in athletes with a spinal cord injury (SCI) by this project. That the training device can be used in patients with paraplegia in the future, the so-called "testing of the applicability of this concept" will be carried out during this study. Fourteen volunteer, healthy athletes with SCI are first tested for their upper body performance, followed by a training phase over 20 trainings and at the end the performance data is collected again. The training intensity and duration is continuously increased during the training phase.

At the beginning, the study design includes a familiarisation appointment with performance tests and training on the eccentric arm-crank device (KREHA). At least one week later, the first test sequence including a maximum strength test (bench press) and a test to determine the anaerobic performance (Wingate test) is conducted. The second test sequence takes place one to three days later. This includes a handgrip strength test, an aerobic endurance test (ramp test on the arm crank ergometer with ergospirometry) and a further familiarisation training on the KREHA. The training phase starts within two weeks after the pre-tests have been completed. There are two to a maximum of three trainings per week. These take 30 to 45 minutes and take place on the KREHA device under the supervision of the study staff. The training phase lasts a maximum of twelve weeks (20 training sessions). The first test sequence is repeated five to eight days after the last workout. The second test sequence takes place at the same time interval as in the pre-tests.

Over the twenty training sessions, able-bodied participants will exercise on the KREHA device. An arm-crank has to be decelerated, which will be rotated by a prematurely defined revolution rate and training duration. During this intervention a certain power has to be applied. During the whole time of training a continous progression in power and training duration is applied.

Inclusion Criteria: male or female with traumatic or disease-related SCI age between 18 and 50 years experience in strength training Squad status or at least 4h per week training Biceps/triceps function healthy(study physician) adequately informed and confirmed per signature Exclusion Criteria: findings during anamnesis of study physician pregnancy