Abstract
Objective: Evaluate the effect of aerobic exercise using arm crank ergometry (ACE) in high motor complete (ISNCSCI A/B) spinal cord injury (SCI) as primarily related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and functional mobility and secondarily to body composition and metabolic profiles.
Design: Longitudinal interventional study at an academic medical center.
Methods: Ten previously untrained participants (M8/F2, Age 36.7 y +/- 10.1, BMI 24.5 +/- 6.0) with high motor complete SCI (C7-T5) underwent ACE exercise training 30 minutes/day x 3 days/week for 10 weeks at 70% VO2Peak.
Outcome Measures: Primary outcome measures were pre- and post-intervention changes in markers of cardiovascular fitness (graded exercise testing (GXT): VO2, VO2peak, respiratory quotient [RQ], GXT time, peak power, and energy expenditure [EE]) and community mobility (time to traverse a 100ft-5 degrees ramp, and 12-minute WC propulsion test). Secondary outcome measures were changes in body composition and metabolic profiles (fasting and area under the curve for glucose and insulin, homeostasis model assessment [HOMA] for %beta-cell activity [%beta], %insulin sensitivity [%S], and insulin resistance [IR], and Matsuda Index [ISIMatsuda]).
Results: Resting VO2, relative VO2peak, absolute VO2peak, peak power, RQ, 12-minute WC propulsion, fasting insulin, fasting G:I ratio, HOMA-%S, and HOMA-IR all significantly improved following intervention (P < 0.05). There were no changes in body composition (P>0.05).
Conclusions: Ten weeks of ACE at 70% VO2peak in high motor complete SCI improves aerobic capacity, community mobility, and metabolic profiles independent of changes in body composition.
