title: Greater daily leisure time physical activity is associated with lower chronic disease risk in adults with spinal cord injury.
abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and common risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes in community-dwelling adults with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). LTPA was measured using the Physical Activity Recall Assessment for People with SCI in 76 men and women with chronic (> or =1 year) paraplegia or tetraplegia, living in or near Hamilton, Ontario. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, body composition (fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM)), blood pressure, and biochemical data were collected. Thirty-seven percent (n = 28 participants) were inactive, reporting no LTPA whatsoever, and were compared with an equal-sized group consisting of the most active study participants (> or =25 min of LTPA per day). After adjusting for significant covariates, BMI (18.7%), %FM (19.4%), and C-reactive protein (143%) were all lower, and %FFM was higher (7.2%), in active participants (all p < or = 0.05). Ten percent of active participants vs. 33% of inactive participants were insulin resistant (p = 0.03). Waist circumference (17.6%) and systolic blood pressure (15.3%) were lower in active vs. inactive participants with paraplegia (both p < or = 0.05), but not tetraplegia. In conclusion, greater daily LTPA is associated with lower levels of selected CVD and type 2 diabetes risk factors in individuals living with SCI. Whether this relationship translates into a lower incidence of these chronic diseases has yet to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Relations and Applied Human Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada. abuchhol@uoguelph.ca
authors.forename: Andrea C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Buchholz
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Martin Ginis
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bray
authors.forename: B Catharine
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Craven
authors.forename: Audrey L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: Keith C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Latimer
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McColl
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.forename: Dalton L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Wolfe
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers