Background: Persons living with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) demonstrate an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Purpose The aim of this report was to assess the cardiopulmonary and metabolic impact of prescribed aquatic exercise in combination with dietary guidance for four individuals experiencing chronic SCI.
Case description: We measured peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2), resting energy expenditure (REE), weight, food logs, fasting glucose, insulin and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) in four men with incomplete SCI, aged 34 to 63 years.
Intervention: The men received a group aquatic exercise program three times per week for 10 weeks, and a weekly individual nutritional consultation by phone.
Outcomes: Peak VO2 increased by 7.9% and 34.4% in participants #3 and #4 and decreased by 12% and 16.4% in #1 and #2. Glucose values decreased by 19.6% and 14.2% for #1 and #3, and increased by 9.3% for both #2 and #4. Body mass decreased by 9.9%, 3.0% and 5.7% for participants #1, #2 and #3, but demonstrated no change for participant #4. Dietary guidance and education produced positive changes, including reduced fat, carbohydrate, daily sugar, and average calorie intake.
Conclusion: Moderate exercise with weekly nutritional guidance appeared to positively impact body mass and dietary selections with varied metabolic and cardiopulmonary results.
Keywords: aquatic exercise; case report; nutrition; obesity; spinal cord injury.