The purpose of the present study was to determine the main factors that influence physical work capacity (PWC) in individuals with spinal cord injury (ISCI) using multivariate analysis. Thirty-eight male ISCI (C6 - L5) performed a submaximal arm exercise test on an arm cranking ergometer to estimate their oxygen uptake (ml･kg⁻¹･min⁻¹) at a heart rate of 150 beats･min⁻¹ (PWC150) as index of PWC. Hayashi's Quantification I was applied to analyze the effects of 6 factors including age, physical activity, smoking, occupation, the level of spinal cord injury (SCI), and period since SCI on PWC150. This analysis revealed high partial correlation coefficients between PWC150 and the level of SCI (0.664) as well as the physical activity level (0.610) compared to other factors; period since SCI (0.510), age (0.450), smoking (0.318), and occupation (0.191). These results showed that the level of SCI and physical activity were the most important factors in determining PWC in male ISCI.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.20/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE