Does standing protect bone density in patients with chronic spinal cord injury?
OBJECTIVE
To compare the t-scores of proximal femur and lumbar spine of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) with different levels of weight bearing.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study comparing 3 groups of patients with SCI: patients with daily standing times of more than 1 hour, patients with daily standing times of less than 1 hour, and nonstanding patients. Seventy-one patients with chronic SCI were recruited. They were assigned to 1 of 3 groups according to their reported daily standing time. The bone density of lumbar and proximal femoral regions was measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.


RESULTS
The 3 groups were similar in terms of demographics and clinical variables. No significant difference was found among the mean t-scores of lumbar and proximal femoral regions of the groups. However, the patients in the group that stood more than 1 hour daily had a slight tendency to have higher t-scores than those in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no significant difference among the 3 groups. However, standing might be partially helpful in protecting the bone density in SCI by opposing the effects of immobilization.
Goktepe
Ahmet Salim
AS
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, TSK Rehabilitasyon Merkezi Bilkent, Ankara, Turkey. asgoktepe@hotmail.com
Tugcu
Ilknur
I
Yilmaz
Bilge
B
Alaca
Ridvan
R
Gunduz
Sukru
S
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology