Model System:

SCI

Reference Type:

Journal article

Accession No.:

J85781

Journal:

Spinal Cord (formerly Paraplegia)

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

, 59, 1, 74-81

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Study examined physiological adaptations and generalizable fitness effects of 6 months of whole-body exercise training using volitional arm and functional electrical stimulation (FES) tests. Twenty-seven adults with tetraplegic or paraplegic spinal cord injury (SCI) performed hybrid FES-row training (FESRT) and completed peak exercise tests with arms-only (AO; baseline and 6 months) and FES rowing (baseline, 3 and 6 months). Participants demonstrated increased peak aerobic capacity (VO2peak) after FESRT that tended to be higher when assessed with FES than AO rowing tests. Changes in FES and AO VO2peak were significantly correlated, and 11 individuals demonstrated improvements (>6 percent) on both test formats. Younger age was the only difference between those who showed generalization of training effects and those who did not but changes in FES VO2peak correlated to time since injury in individuals who were less the 2 years post-SCI. Lastly, VO2peak improvements were greater during the first 3 months vs. months 4 to 6, which suggests early training adaptations during FESRT. The findings suggest that gains in aerobic capacity after whole-body FESRT are better reflected during FES-row testing format. They relate to high-intensity exercise and appear early during training, but they may not generalize to equivalent increases in AO exercise in all individuals with SCI.

Author(s):

Mercier, Hannah W. |Picard, Glen |Taylor, J. Andrew |Vivodtzev, Isabelle|

Participating Centers: