Studies on the effects of exercise training in persons with cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) are scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an 8-week stationary arm-crank exercise (ACE) training programme on the level of autonomy, exercise performance, pulmonary functional parameters and resting heart rate variability (HRV) in persons with CSCI. Quadriplegia Index of Function (QIF), arm-crank peak power output (Ppeak), spirometric variables, and HRV indices were measured before and after the training programme in a group of 11 persons with CSCI. ACE training increased Ppeak in both groups (p < 0.05), whereas maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) and low frequency HRV (LF) improved only in the lower CSCI group (p < 0.05). Moreover, QIF and Ppeak were significantly correlated before (r = 0.88; p < 0.01) and after (r = 0.86; p < 0.01) the training period. However, no significant changes were found in the level of autonomy (QIF) as a result of the intervention. Therefore, stationary ACE training appears to be a feasible and effective method for aerobic exercise in persons with tetraplegia and a short-term intervention is able to significantly improve exercise capacity, cardiac autonomic regulation and respiratory muscle endurance, regardless of the absence of significant immediate changes in the level of autonomy.

Efecto del pedaleo de brazos sobre el sistema cardiorrespiratorio de las Efecto del pedaleo de brazos sobre el sistema cardiorrespiratorio de las personas con tetraplejia personas con tetraplejia Effect of armcrank pedaling on the cardiorespiratory system of the Effect of armcrank pedaling on the cardiorespiratory system of the people with tetraplegia people with tetraplegia G a b r i e l B r i z u e l a C o s t a S a n d r a S i n z R a f a e l A r a n d a M a l a v é s I g n a c i o M a r t í n e z N a v a r r o U n i v e r s i d a d d e V a l e n c i a Objetivos: Determinar el efecto de un programa de entrenamiento de pedaleo de brazos (PB) estacionario sobre el sistema cardiorrespiratorio de personas con tetraplejia. Método: Se estudiaron 11 participantes con tetraplejia por lesión medular (LM) de origen traumático a niveles entre C4 y C6. Se midieron variables espirométricas (VC, FVC y MVV) y de Variabilidad de la Frecuencia Cardíaca VFC (HR, STDHR, RMSSD, LF, HF y HRVPOWER), antes y después de 8 semanas de entrenamiento. Resultados: Todas las variables mostraron cambios significativos (p < 0,05) después del programa de entrenamiento aumentando su valor, excepto la FC que disminuyó. Las personas con las LM más bajas mostraron valores mayores en todos los parámetros espirométricos. Conclusiones: Un entrenamiento de PB a corto plazo es suficiente para mejorar de modo relevante tanto los parámetros respiratorios como los de VFC, en personas con tetraplejia, incrementando probablemente su calidad de vida.Palabras clave: pedaleo de brazos; tetraplejia; variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca; espirometría. R e s u m e nGabriel Brizuela Costa Universidad de Valencia, España E-mail: Gabriel.Brizuela@uv.es Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the effect, in subjects with tetraplejia, of a stationary armcrank pedaling (AP) training program on their cardiorespiratory system. Method: 11 participants with tetraplegia, originated by traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) at levels between C4 and C6, were included in the study. Spirometric (VC, FVC and MVV) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) indexes (HR, STDHR, RMSSD, LF, HF, HRVPOWER) were measured before and after an 8 weeks of armcrank pedaling training program. Results: Spirometric and HRV variables showed changes (p < 0.05) after the training program, all the variables increased their value after the program, except HR which was decreased. People with lower SCI showed higher respiratory parameters. Conclusions: A short term AP training program is sufficient to meaningfully improve both respiratory and HRV parameters in people with high tetraplegia, and probably increasing their quality of life.Key words: armcrank pedaling; tetraplegia; heart rate variability; spirometry. A b s t r a c tRecibido el 16 de abril 2010; aceptado el 17 de septiembre de 2010