Proposal for a program of physical exercise for adults with spinal cord injury: effects on body composition

Abstract

Problem statement: People with spinal cord injury have an increased risk for developing metabolic syndrome due to inherent changes in body composition caused by muscle atrophy below the level of injury, and the adoption of certain lifestyles, such as physical inactivity. Due to the barriers to access to gyms, exercise programs in the home environment itself can be an alternative to encourage people with SCI to a more active life. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a physical exercise program, which can be performed at home, on the body composition of adults with spinal cord injury. Methods: Nineteen adults with spinal cord injury, aged between 18 and 58 years and sedentary, were allocated into two groups: control group (n= 9) and intervention group (n= 10). The IG participants were submitted to a 60 minutes session of physical exercise, twice a week, for 16 weeks. For the evaluation of the body composition, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was used before and after the intervention. Fat-free mass, total and local (arms, trunk, and legs) fat mass and relative android fat (%) were analyzed using a 2×2 repeated-measures ANOVA (group: intervention group vs. control group by moment: pre vs. post) (P≤ 0.05) and the effect size (Cohen's d) was calculated. Results: There were no major effects or significant interactions for the analyzed variables (P> 0.05). However, there was a small beneficial effect in favor of intervention group for the fat (d= 0.43) and lean (d= 0.44) masses of the arms and the android fat (d= 0.32). Conclusion: The physical exercise program for adults with spinal cord injury provided small positive responses in the body composition of the upper limbs and android fat, and it can be an interesting alternative for this population to practice at home.