Near Infrared Spectroscopy for Measuring Changes in Bone Hemoglobin Content after Exercise in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury

J Orthop Res, 2018 · DOI: 10.1002/jor.23622 · Published: January 1, 2018

Spinal Cord Injury Medical Imaging Musculoskeletal Medicine

Simple Explanation

This study uses near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure changes in blood flow in the tibia during and after exercise. The study included able-bodied individuals and those with spinal cord injury (SCI) to compare blood flow responses. The researchers found differences in how blood flow changed in the tibia of able-bodied individuals compared to those with SCI during and after exercise.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

9 able-bodied individuals and 6 volunteers with SCI

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
In able-bodied individuals, deoxygenated blood increased in the tibia during and after rowing exercise.
2
In individuals with SCI, there was a decrease in oxygenated hemoglobin during rowing, with no significant changes in total hemoglobin after exercise.
3
Able-bodied rowers had a greater change in deoxygenated hemoglobin concentration than SCI rowers during and after rowing.

Research Summary

This study demonstrates the feasibility of using NIRS to detect changes in hemoglobin concentration in the human cortical bone. The study found that in able-bodied individuals, total blood content in the tibia increases immediately after exercise, characterized by an increase in deoxygenated hemoglobin. In individuals with SCI, the response to FES-rowing was characterized only by a decrease in oxygenated hemoglobin during rowing, with no other changes in blood content during or post exercise.

Practical Implications

Non-invasive Monitoring

NIRS allows for non-invasive monitoring of blood content changes in human bone, which can be valuable for assessing bone health.

Clinical Applications

This technology can be used in clinical applications like stress fracture detection, providing real-time measurements of blood perfusion in bone.

SCI Rehabilitation

The study provides insights into the effects of exercise on bone blood perfusion in individuals with SCI, which can inform rehabilitation strategies.

Study Limitations

1
Results could not be directly validated with literature values due to the lack of established measurements of acute changes in total blood content in human bone.
2
NIRS measurements are sensitive to positioning and subject motion, which can introduce variability.
3
Estimates of hemoglobin concentration depend on geometrical and optical properties, which can affect the accuracy of the results.

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