Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with respiratory dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress, and can increase pulmonary tissue stress during exercise. Thus, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitrite (NO2−) concentrations in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) were compared during an official wheelchair rugby match. 14 males and two females with SCI (33.3 ± 6.5 years), anthropometry, baseline spirometry, and the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation classification (IWRF) were recorded. Playing time (23.6 ± 7.49 min), Borg scale (4.3 ± 1.64), and H2O2 EBC and NO2− EBC were determined before and 20 min after the match. In the total sample, H2O2 EBC and NO2− EBC increased post-match (p = 0.0042 and p = 0.031, respectively). When segmented according to IWRF classification, the highest functional capacity, H group (>1.5 points; n = 11) increased its H2O2 EBC per exercise (p = 0.0029) and showed a trend for NO2− EBC (p = 0.09), while the lowest classification, L group (≤1.5 points; n = 5) showed a higher baseline concentration in both EBC markers with no changes per exercise. Baseline IWRF classification was inversely correlated with H2O2 EBC, while body mass index (BMI) was positively associated with NO2− EBC. In conclusion, in the sample analyzed, a short period of moderate intensity during a wheelchair rugby match increases H2O2 and NO2− in the airway with a potentially greater effect in SCI athletes with better functional capacity; it remains to be determined whether this phenomenon corresponds to a physiological or pathological process.
Rosales-Antequera et al. (Wed,) studied this question.