Muscle properties change profoundly as a result of disuse after spinal cord injury. To study the extent to which these changes can be reversed by electrical stimulation, tibialis anterior muscles in complete spinal cord-injured subjects were stimulated for progressively longer times (15 min, 45 min, 2 h, and 8 h/day) in 6-wk intervals. An index of muscle endurance to repetitive stimulation doubled (from 0.4 to 0.8), contraction and half-relaxation times increased markedly (from 70 to approximately 100 ms), but little or no change was measured in twitch or tetanic tension with increasing amounts of stimulation. The changes observed with 2 h/day of stimulation brought the physiological values close to those for normal (control) subjects. A decrease in the stimulation period produced a reversal of the changes. No effects were observed in the contralateral (unstimulated) muscle at any time, nor was there evidence of decreased numbers of motor units in these subjects secondary to spinal cord injury. Motor unit properties changed in parallel with those of the whole muscle. The occasional spasms occurring in these subjects are not sufficient to maintain normal muscle properties, but these properties can largely be restored by 1-2 h/day of electrical stimulation.

The meta-analysis provides evidence that vegetarianism is associated with lower serum concentrations of hs-CRP when individuals follow a vegetarian diet for at least 2 years. Further research is necessary to draw appropriate conclusions regarding potential associations between vegetarianism and IL-6 levels. A vegetarian diet might be a useful approach to manage inflammaging in the long term.

Low bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis are health concerns among older adults and individuals with physical, neurological, and/or mobility impairments. Detrimental changes in bone density and bone architecture occurring in these individuals may be due in part to the reduction/cessation of physical activity and the accompanying reduction of mechanical strain on bone. Changes in bone architecture predispose these individuals to fragility fractures during low-trauma events. Whole-body vibration (WBV) has been examined as an intervention for maintaining or improving bone mass among people with low BMD, because it may emulate the mechanical strains observed during normal daily activities. This article provides an overview of WBV including terminology, safety considerations, and a summary of the current literature; it is intended for rehabilitation healthcare providers considering WBV as a potential therapy for individuals with osteoporosis.Abbreviations: BMD = bone mineral density, CONSORT = Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials, GRF = ground reaction force, RCT = randomized control trial, SCI = spinal cord injury, WBV = whole-body vibration.

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