To investigate the real-time cardiovascular response to the progressive overload exercise in different levels of spinal cord injury (SCI), and to find out whether regular exercise has effect on these cardiovascular responses.
The study enrolled 8 able-bodied individuals in the control group plus 15 SCI subjects who were divided into two groups by their neurological level of injury: high-level SCI group (T6 or above) and low-level SCI group (T7 or below). Also, subjects were divided into exercise group and non-exercise group by usual exercise habits. We instructed the subjects to perform exercises using arm ergometer according to the protocol and checked plethysmograph for the real time assessment of blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output.
Six subjects were included in high-level SCI group (3 cervical, 3 thoracic injuries), 9 subjects in low-level SCI group (9 thoracic injuries), and 8 able-bodied individuals in control group. During arm ergometer-graded exercise, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was significantly lower in high-level SCI subjects of non-exercise group, compared with high-level SCI subjects of exercise group. In addition, HR was significantly higher in low-level SCI group compared with control group.
There are significant differences in mean arterial pressure of high-level SCI group according to usual exercise habits. We discovered that even in non-athlete high-level SCI, regular exercise can bring cardiac modulation through blood pressure control.
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To evaluate the cardiopulmonary endurance of subjects with spinal cord injury by measuring the maximal oxygen consumption with varying degrees of spinal cord injury level, age, and regular exercise.
We instructed the subjects to perform exercises using arm ergometer on healthy adults at 20 years of age or older with spinal cord injury, and their maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) was measured with a metabolic measurement system. The exercise proceeded stepwise according to the exercise protocol and was stopped when the subject was exhausted or when VO2 reached an equilibriu
Among the 40 subjects, there were 10 subjects with cervical cord injury, 27 with thoracic cord injury, and 3 with lumbar cord injury. Twenty-five subjects who were exercised regularly showed statistically higher results of VO2max than those who did not exercise regularly. Subjects with cervical injury showed statistically lower VO2max than the subjects with thoracic or lumbar injury out of the 40 subjects with neurologic injury. In addition, higher age showed a statistically lower VO2max. Lastly, the regularly exercising paraplegic group showed higher VO2max than the non-exercising paraplegic group.
There are differences in VO2max of subjects with spinal cord injury according to the degree of neurologic injury, age, and whether the subject participates in regular exercise. We found that regular exercise increased the VO2max in individuals with spinal cord injury.
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Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of aerobic exercise program in cardiac patients.
Method: Twenty patients participated in 6 weeks of aerobic exercise with telemetry monitoring as an outpatient rehabilitation program. For the comparison of physiologic changes, we used graded exercise test (GXT) by means of modified Bruce protocol before and in 6 weeks after aerobic exercise training. Exercise prescription for cardiac rehabilitation was composed of intensity, mode, frequency and duration. By use of EKG telemetry and monitoring of blood pressure and Borg RPE (ratings of perceived exertion) scale, we were monitored patients status during exercise.
Results: In six weeks after aerobic exercise training, the hemodynamic and metabolic responses were improved and statistically significant parameters were as follows: exercise time, maximal METs, resting heart rate, maximal heart rate, submaximal rate pressure product, maximal expired volume, maximal oxygen consumption rate and anaerobic threshold.
Conclusion: We concluded that six week cardiac rehabilitation program is useful and safe to improve the aerobic capacity for cardiac patients.
Objective: To evaluate the effect of aerobic exercise training on the cardiovascular system in the early stroke patients by bicycle ergometer exercise test.
Method: 16 stroke patients without cardiac disease were randomly assigned to exercise training group (8 patients) and control group (8 patients). The time interval between the onset of stroke and exercise training was within 90 days. Exercise tests by bicycle ergometer using Astrand-Ryhming protocol were performed twice before and after training. Exercise training was consisted with the intensity of 60∼70% of maximal heart rate, 30 minutes per day, 3 times per week for 6 weeks using bicycle ergometer. Modified Barthel Index (MBI) score and blood lipid profile were recorded before and during training. Blood pressure and heart rate were checked before and during exercise test.
Results: In a training group, maximal systolic blood pressure and rate pressure product were decreased immediately after exercise test after 6-weeks exercise training (p＜0.05). The MBI score and lipid profile were not changed after training.
Conclusion: Early exercise training in the stroke patients for 6 weeks have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system.
Objective: To investigate whether there is a significant effect of growth hormone(GH) treatment with diet and exercise over the diet and exercise alone in obese non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus(NIDDM).
Method: Twenty obese NIDDM adults were studied. We measured the body weight, body composition and exercise capacity before and after 12 weeks of treatment program. The subjects were assigned in a double-blind manner either to the diet, aerobic exercise with placebo treatment group(group A) or to the diet, aerobic exercise with GH treatment group(group B) for twenty-week period. Two groups were compared for the demographic data.
Results: After 12-weeks of treatment program, each group showed a significant weight loss (group A: 8.54±2.29 kg vs group B: 7.14±2.99 kg) than before the treatment, however there was no significant weight loss between two groups. After 12-weeks, the fat fraction of body weight loss was significantly higher in group B than group A(0.80±0.40%kg versus 0.55±0.30%kg). After 12-weeks, the maximal oxygen consumption was similarly increased in both groups(23.75% in the group A versus 29.2% in the group B). After 12-weeks, the peak torque was similarly increased in both groups(9.7% in the group A versus 17.3% in the group B). After 12-weeks, the endurance was similarly increased in both groups(10.1% in the group A versus 8.1% in the group B).
Conclusion: Both group A and B showed a significant weight loss and resulted in a comparable gain in the muscle strength, endurance, and maximal oxygen consumption. The addition of GH in a low dose to a the calorie-restricted diet and aerobic exercise resulted in a significant fat loss especially around the visceral area.
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