Energy metabolism during activity-promoting video games practice in subjects with spinal cord injury: evidences for health promotion.
BACKGROUND
Activity promoting video game (APVG) practice significantly affects energy metabolism through energy expenditure (EE) increase and has been recently included in strategies for health promotion. It is not known if the APVG practice provides similar outcomes in subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI).


OBJECTIVE
Aim of the study was to evaluate cardio-pulmonary and metabolic adaptations during APVG practice and to find whether EE increase above resting condition could suggest the inclusion of this exercise in a more general strategy for health promotion and body weight control in subjects with SCI.


METHODS
Repeated measures study.


METHODS
Rehabilitation Institute.


METHODS
Ten male subjects with SCI (lesion levels from C7 to L1) age 26 to 55 years.


METHODS
We recorded pulmonary ventilation (VE), oxygen consumption (VO2) for EE esteem and heart rate (HR) at rest and while playing virtual bowling, tennis and boxing games using a portable metabolimeter equipped with ECG electrodes. The standard metabolic equivalent of task (METs) was calculated offline. The metabolic and functional parameters were referred to the 10th minute of each activity.


RESULTS
Metabolic and functional parameters increased significantly from rest to bowling, tennis and boxing. METs exceeded in average 3 during boxing. One hour of APVG can increase daily EE by about 6% (bowling), 10% (tennis) and 15% (boxing).


CONCLUSIONS
These considerable results suggest that physical exertion during APVG practice in subjects with SCI could contribute to health promotion as well as caloric balance control, especially when boxing is considered. This can be safely achieved at home with regular activity.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings substantiate the potential for novel exercise modalities to counteract deconditioning due to inactivity in subjects with SCI by promoting physical activity through implementation of APVG exercise programs.
Laboratory of Neuromuscular Rehabilitation (LaRiN), University of Brescia, Casa di Cura Domus Salutis Institute, Brescia, Italy. orizio@med.unibs.it
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Gaffurini
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Bissolotti
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Calza
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Calabretto
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Orizio
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Gobbo
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018910:Video Games