Improved body composition after 8 wk of electrically stimulated leg cycling in tetraplegic patients

Abstract

The practical aspects of utilizing electrically stimulated leg cycling (ESLC) to counteract alterations in body composition were investigated in five tetraplegic subjects with long-standing complete spinal cord injuries (C5-C7). After a 2-wk adaptation period, the subjects performed seven ESLC sessions per week for 8 wk. No adverse reactions were noted in response to the ESLC program. The ESLC sessions were accompanied by higher lactate concentrations compared with arm exercise. Heart rate and blood pressure response revealed clear, but not serious, signs of autonomic dysreflexia in the beginning of the ESLC sessions. Body temperature increased moderately during the ESLC sessions. Peak oxygen uptake (Vo2) during an ESLC session increased by 70% (P < 0.05) after 8 wk of training. Body composition, evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), demonstrated an increase in lean body mass (LBM) from 66.2 +/- 2.6 to 68.2 +/- 2.1% (P < 0.05), with a concomitant decrease in whole body fat (BF) content from 29.7 +/- 2.6 to 27.8 +/- 2.1% (P < 0.05) after training. The cross-sectional area of quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteus maximus, and gluteus medius muscles, measured by computer tomographic scans, increased from 267 +/- 27 to 324 +/- 27 cm2 (P < 0.05) after the training. In conclusion, daily ESLC sessions during a 2-mo period resulted in increased LBM, decreased BF content, and increased muscular endurance in tetraplegic subjects without any noticeable adverse effects.

The effects of exercise training on physical capacity, strength, body composition and functional performance among adults with spinal cord injury: a systematic review

“…40 The majority of studies found no significant decreases in fat mass post training. However, in two lower-quality studies (Downs & Black score p12), significant reductions in fat mass were observed after FES cycling performed 7 Â per week for 8 weeks 36 and 5 Â per week for 32 weeks. 31 Functional performance.…”

“…All were classified as level 4 or 5, with the exception of one level 2 trial. Training programs involving BWSTT, 32,34,35 FES cycling, 30,31,[36][37][38] FES ambulation, 39,40 neuromuscular electrical stimulation resistance training 41 and vibration exercise 42 produced significant increases in muscle mass, with training frequencies ranging from 2-7 Â per week, for 8-52 weeks duration. Of note, the level 2 trial showed significant increases in quadriceps muscle mass after 26 weeks of FES-assisted treadmill training, 2 times per week for 20 min per session.…”

Análise dos valores de composição corporal em homens com diferentes níveis de lesão medular

“…Perhaps, the small number of patients with incomplete injuries may have created unrealistic equality between the analyses (error type II). Confirming these data through literature is difficult, because most studies do not specify the injury extent (4, [19][20][21][22]27); a study using only subjects with complete injuries (3) and another one had only injuries A and B (28). The latter, in turn, did not perform comparisons between groups.…”

Kinematic analyses of semireclined leg cycling in able-bodied and spinal cord injured individuals

“…Stationary FES-induced semireclined leg cycling (FES-LCE) is used clinically as a form of therapeutic exercise to prevent secondary impairments following SCI injury. [1][2][3] Results from these studies indicate that FES-LCE: (1) increases muscle mass, [4][5][6] (2) improves strength and endurance, [7][8][9] (3) facilitates improvements in function, 7 (4) increases cardiovascular fitness, 7,8,10 (5) improves circulation, 7,8,11 (6) decreases swelling due to edema, 12 (7) reduces rate of bone density loss, 13,14 and (8) reduces lower limb blood pooling. 15,16 These results suggest that FES-induced muscle contraction during cycling exercise can be a valuable clinical rehabilitation tool for individuals with SCI in improving rehabilitation outcome, health, and fitness.…”