Influence of mid and low paraplegia on cardiorespiratory fitness and energy expenditure

Gary J Farkas; Phillip S Gordon; Ann M Swartz; Arthur S Berg; David R Gater

doi:10.1038/s41394-020-00363-5

Influence of mid and low paraplegia on cardiorespiratory fitness and energy expenditure

Spinal Cord Ser Cases. 2020 Dec 16;6(1):110. doi: 10.1038/s41394-020-00363-5.

Authors

Gary J Farkas¹, Phillip S Gordon², Ann M Swartz³, Arthur S Berg⁴, David R Gater²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA. gjf50@med.miami.edu.
² Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
³ Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
⁴ Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.

Abstract

Study design: Observational, Cross-sectional.

Objective: Examine the influence of mid (MP) and low (LP) paraplegia on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), energy expenditure (EE), and physical activity levels (PAL), and compare these data to able-bodied (AB) individuals.

Setting: Academic medical center.

Methods: Persons with MP (n = 6, T6-T8, 83% male, age: 31 ± 11 y, BMI: 24 ± 7 kg/m²) and LP (n = 5; T10-L1, 100% male, age: 39 ± 11 y, BMI: 26 ± 5 kg/m²) and AB controls (n = 6; 67% male, age: 29 ± 12 y, BMI: 26 ± 5 kg/m²) participated. All participants underwent 45-min of arm-crank exercise where CRF and exercise EE were measured. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) was measured, and total daily EE (TDEE) and PAL were estimated.

Results: Absolute VO_2Peak (MP: 1.6 ± 0.2, LP: 1.9 ± 0.1, AB: 2.5 ± 0.7 l/min), peak metabolic equivalents (MP: 6.8 ± 1.3, LP: 5.7 ± 0.7, AB: 8.8 ± 0.8 METs), peak power output (MP: 72.9 ± 11.5, LP: 86.8 ± 6.1, AB: 121.0 ± 34.8 Watts), and maximal heart rate (MP: 177.7 ± 9.8, LP: 157 ± 13.6, AB: 185.2 ± 8.5 bpm) were significantly different between the three groups (p < 0.05). BMR and TDEE did not significantly differ between the three groups (p > 0.05), whereas exercise EE (MP: 7.8 ± 1.2, LP: 9.5 ± 0.7, AB: 12.4 ± 3.5 kcal/min) and PAL (MP: 1.30 ± 0.04, LP: 1.32 ± 0.04, AB: 1.43 ± 0.06) significantly differed (p < 0.05). In the AB group, 33.3% and 66.7% were classified as sedentary or having low activity levels, respectively, while all persons with paraplegia were classified as sedentary according to PAL classifications.

Conclusion: Individuals with MP and LP have lower CRF, exercise EE, and PALs compared to AB individuals.

Publication types

Observational Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Cardiorespiratory Fitness*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Energy Metabolism
Exercise
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Paraplegia
Young Adult