Body composition modifications in people with chronic spinal cord injury after supervised physical activity

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2011 · DOI: 10.1179/2045772311Y.0000000038 · Published: January 1, 2011

Spinal Cord Injury Physiology Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how body composition changes in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) after a supervised physical activity program. Body composition, which includes the amount of lean body mass and fat mass, is an important indicator of health. The participants were divided into groups based on the level of their injury: tetraplegia (TT), high paraplegia (HP), and low paraplegia (LP). Researchers assessed body weight, skinfolds, and body fat percentage before and after the program. The study found that different injury levels resulted in different changes in body composition following the physical activity program, suggesting that exercise and diet plans should be tailored to the specific needs of individuals with varying degrees of SCI.

Study Duration

29 days

Participants

53 men with SCI aged 18–52 years with duration of injury >3 years

Evidence Level

Pre-post intervention study

Key Findings

1
Body weight increased in the tetraplegia group and decreased in the high paraplegia group after the intervention.
2
Absolute and relative body fat decreased significantly in the paraplegia groups, while lean body mass percentage increased.
3
There was no correlation between time since injury and skinfolds sum across all three groups.

Research Summary

The study aimed to evaluate body composition changes in patients with SCI after a supervised physical activity program and to correlate total body fat with time since injury. The results showed favorable changes in body composition after 29 days of supervised physical activity, but these changes varied in direction and magnitude depending on the level of injury (tetraplegia, high paraplegia, low paraplegia). The researchers concluded that exercise programs should be tailored to individual physical capabilities that correlate with functional independence, considering the different responses to physical activity based on the level of SCI.

Practical Implications

Personalized Exercise Programs

Exercise and diet plans should be tailored to the specific needs of individuals with varying degrees of SCI to optimize body composition changes.

Importance of Physical Activity

Supervised physical activity can lead to favorable changes in body composition, such as increased lean body mass and reduced body fat, in individuals with SCI.

Long-Term Management

Regular physical activity should be included in long-term management plans for individuals with SCI to maintain healthy body composition and overall well-being.

Study Limitations

1
Patients were admitted at different times, which may affect responses to changes in body composition.
2
There was no food control with individual nutritional standards or a comparison with a control group.
3
Physical activities were different between groups and individually, with variations in volume and intensity.

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