Physical exercise improves arterial stiffness after spinal cord injury. (November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hubli, Michèle; Currie, Katharine D.; West, Christopher R.; Gee, Cameron M.; Krassioukov, Andrei V.
• Is Part Of: Journal of spinal cord medicine. Volume 37:Number 6(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 782
• Page End: 785
• Publication Date: 2014-11
• Subjects: Spinal cord -- Wounds and injuries -- Periodicals; Spinal cord -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.8305
• DOI: 10.1179/2045772314Y.0000000232
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1079-0268

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title>Objective/background</title> <p>Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), the gold-standard assessment of central arterial stiffness, has prognostic value for cardiovascular disease risk in able-bodied individuals. The aim of this study was to compare aortic PWV in athletes and non-athletes with spinal cord injury (SCI).</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Design</title> <p>Cross-sectional comparison.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Methods</title> <p>Aortic PWV was assessed in 20 individuals with motor-complete, chronic SCI (C2–T5; 18 ± 8 years post-injury) using applanation tonometry at the carotid and femoral arterial sites. Ten elite hand-cyclists were matched for sex to 10 non-athletes; age and time since injury were comparable between the groups. Heart rate and discrete brachial blood pressure measurements were collected throughout testing.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Outcome measures</title> <p>Aortic PWV, blood pressure, heart rate.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Results</title> <p>Aortic PWV was significantly lower in athletes vs. non-athletes (6.9 ± 1.0 vs. 8.7 ± 2.5 m/second, P = 0.044). There were no significant between-group differences in resting supine mean arterial blood pressure (91 ± 19 vs. 81 ± 10 mmHg) and heart rate (60 ± 10 vs. 58 ± 6 b.p.m.).</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Athletes with SCI exhibited improved central arterial stiffness compared to non-athletes, which is in agreement with the previous able-bodied literature. This finding implies that chronic exercise training may improve arterial health and potentially lower cardiovascular disease risk in the SCI population.</p> </sec> </abstract>