Similar fat and carbohydrate oxidation in response to arm cycling exercise in persons with spinal cord injury versus able-bodied

Spinal networks in the cervical and lumbar cord are actively coupled during locomotion to coordinate arm and leg activity. The goals of this project were to investigate the intersegmental cervicolumbar connectivity during cycling after incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) and to assess the effect of rehabilitation training on improving reflex modulation mediated by cervicolumbar pathways. Two studies were conducted. In the first, 22 neurologically intact (NI) people and 10 people with chronic iSCI were recruited. The change in H-reflex amplitude in flexor carpi radialis (FCR) during leg cycling and H-reflex amplitude in soleus (SOL) during arm cycling were investigated. In the second study, two groups of participants with chronic iSCI underwent 12 wk of cycling training: one performed combined arm and leg cycling (A&L) and the other legs only cycling (Leg). The effect of training paradigm on the amplitude of the SOL H-reflex was assessed. Significant reduction in the amplitude of both FCR and SOL H-reflexes during dynamic cycling of the opposite limbs was found in NI participants but not in participants with iSCI. Nonetheless, there was a significant reduction in the SOL H-reflex during dynamic arm cycling in iSCI participants after training. Substantial improvements in SOL H-reflex properties were found in the A&L group after training. The results demonstrate that cervicolumbar modulation during rhythmic movements is disrupted in people with chronic iSCI; however, this modulation is restored after cycling training. Furthermore, involvement of the arms simultaneously with the legs during training may better regulate the leg spinal reflexes.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This work systematically demonstrates the disruptive effect of incomplete spinal cord injury on cervicolumbar coupling during rhythmic locomotor movements. It also shows that the impaired cervicolumbar coupling could be significantly restored after cycling training. Actively engaging the arms in rehabilitation paradigms for the improvement of walking substantially regulates the excitability of the lumbar spinal networks. The resulting regulation may be better than that obtained by interventions that focus on training of the legs only.

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Hemodynamic and cardiorespiratory responses to various arm cycling regimens in men with spinal cord injury

Spinal Cord Series and Cases ◽

10.1038/s41394-018-0145-9 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Todd A. Astorino

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Cardiorespiratory Responses ◽

Arm Cycling ◽

Cord Injury

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Combined arm cycling and standard exercise training for improving trunk function after spinal cord injury

http://isrctn.com/ ◽

10.1186/isrctn17864031 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shinyi Chiou

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Exercise Training ◽

Arm Cycling ◽

Cord Injury

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Cycling Exercise and Fetal Spinal Cord Transplantation Act Synergistically on Atrophied Muscle following Chronic Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair ◽

10.1177/154596830001400201 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 85-91 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Charlotte A. Peterson ◽

René J.L. Murphy ◽

Esther E. Dupont-Versteegden ◽

John D. Houlé

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Chronic Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Cycling Exercise ◽

Transplantation Act ◽

Cord Injury

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Energy Expenditure, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Body Composition Following Arm Cycling or Functional Electrical Stimulation Exercises in Spinal Cord Injury: A 16-Week Randomized Controlled Trial

Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation ◽

10.46292/sci20-00065 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 121-134 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gary J. Farkas ◽

Ashraf S. Gorgey ◽

David R. Dolbow ◽

Arthur S. Berg ◽

David R. Gater

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Body Composition ◽

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Energy Expenditure ◽

Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽

Body Fat ◽

Peak Power ◽

Arm Cycling ◽

Cord Injury

Background: Physical deconditioning and inactivity following spinal cord injury (SCI) are associated with multiple cardiometabolic risks. To mitigate cardiometabolic risk, exercise is recommended, but it is poorly established whether arm cycling exercise (ACE) or functional electrical stimulation (FES) leg cycling yields superior benefits. Objectives: To determine the adaptations of 16 weeks of FES cycling and ACE on exercise energy expenditure (EEE), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and obesity after SCI. Methods: Thirteen physically untrained individuals were randomly assigned to FES (n = 6) or ACE (n = 7) exercise 5 days/week for 16 weeks. Pre- and post-intervention EEE, peak oxygen consumption (absolute and relative VO2Peak), and work were assessed using indirect calorimetry, while body composition was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Results: Main effects were found for peak power (p < .001), absolute (p = .046) and relative (p = .042) VO2Peak, and peak work (p = .013). Compared to baseline, the ACE group increased in EEE (+85%, p = .002), peak power (+307%, p < .001), VO2Peak (absolute +21%, relative +22%, p ≤ .024), peak work (19% increase, p = .003), and total body fat decreased (-6%, p = .05). The FES group showed a decrease in percentage body fat mass (−5%, p = .008). The ACE group had higher EEE (p = .008), peak power (p < .001), and relative VO2Peak (p = .025) compared to postintervention values in the FES group. Conclusion: In the current study, ACE induced greater increases in EEE and CRF, whereas ACE and FES showed similar results on body fat. Exercise promotional efforts targeting persons with SCI should use both FES and ACE to reduce sedentary behavior and to optimize different health parameters after SCI.

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