Autonomic cardiovascular control recovery in quadriplegics after handcycle training

This study aimed to understand how the heart and blood vessels of quadriplegics respond to exercise, specifically handcycle training. The researchers measured heart rate variability (HRV), a tool that shows how well the nervous system controls heart rate, before and after training. The findings suggest that quadriplegics have a slower recovery of heart rate control after exercise compared to healthy individuals, indicating a potential deficiency in their parasympathetic nervous system.

• 1
  Quadriplegics (SCIG) showed reduced heart rate variability (HRV) parameters (RR, SDNN, rMSSD, LF, HF, SD1, and SD2) after handcycle training, with SDNN, LF, and SD2 remaining decreased during recovery.
• 2
  Healthy subjects (CG) also showed reduced HRV parameters (RR, rMSSD, pNN50, LF, HF, SD1, and SampEn) after training, but only RR remained decreased during recovery.
• 3
  The quadriplegic group (SCIG) had significantly lower pNN50, LF, HF, and SampEn before training, and lower SDNN, LF, HF, and SD2 immediately after training compared to the control group (CG).