Effects of Aerobic Exercise Training on Fitness and Walking Related Outcomes in Ambulatory Individuals with Chronic Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

This study investigated whether a six-week aerobic exercise program could improve fitness and walking ability in people with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). The exercise program involved using a recumbent stepper, which is a machine that allows for a total-body aerobic workout. The participants completed the exercise three times a week. Researchers measured their aerobic capacity (how well their body uses oxygen) and walking speed before and after the program. The study found that the exercise program led to improvements in both aerobic capacity and walking speed, suggesting that this type of exercise can be beneficial for people with incomplete SCI.

• 1
  Aerobic capacity significantly increased following the aerobic exercise training (AET) program.
• 2
  Self-selected overground walking speed (OGWS) also showed statistically and clinically significant improvements after AET.
• 3
  Daily step counts increased significantly, indicating greater physical activity in the participants' daily lives after the intervention.