A study compared physiologic responses of healthy paraplegic males to those of healthy, able-bodied males during maximal arm ergometry. Fifteen able-bodied, healthy adult males and 13 healthy adult male paraplegics followed an exercise program involving heart rate, increased exercise loads, and oxygen uptake. Results from an analysis of the data reflect the need for using paraplegics as subjects when conducting research designed to elucidate specific exercise prescription regimens for paraplegics. The American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for exercise prescriptions are probably not valid for this population during arm work because the assumption cannot be made that the heart rate and oxygen uptake relationships of paraplegics and able-bodied subjects are similar. Further research comparing physiological responses to submaximal arm ergometry in similar groups is warranted. (JD)