Greater daily leisure time physical activity is associated with lower chronic disease risk in adults with spinal cord injury.
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.
Buchholz
Andrea C
AC
Department of Family Relations and Applied Human Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada. abuchhol@uoguelph.ca
Martin Ginis
Kathleen A
KA
Bray
Steven R
SR
Craven
B Catharine
BC
Hicks
Audrey L
AL
Hayes
Keith C
KC
Latimer
Amy E
AE
McColl
Mary Ann
MA
Potter
Patrick J
PJ
Wolfe
Dalton L
DL
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
D015415:Biomarkers