Low-grade systemic inflammation and leptin levels were improved by arm cranking exercise in adults with chronic spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the effect of arm cranking exercise on improving plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines and adipokines in untrained adults with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI).


METHODS
Longitudinal study.


METHODS
Community-based supervised intervention.


METHODS
Men (N=17) with complete SCI at or below T5 volunteered for this study. Participants were randomly allocated to the intervention (n=9) or control group (n=8) using a concealed method.


METHODS
A 12-week arm cranking exercise program of 3 sessions per week consisted of warm-up (10-15min), arm crank (20-30min; increasing 2min and 30s every 3wk) at a moderate work intensity of 50% to 65% of heart rate reserve (starting at 50% and increasing 5% every 3wk), and cool-down (5-10min).


METHODS
Plasma levels of leptin, adiponectin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6 were determined. Furthermore, physical fitness (maximum oxygen consumption [V˙O2max]) and body composition (anthropometric index, waist circumference, and body mass index) were also assessed.


RESULTS
Plasma levels of leptin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6 were significantly decreased after the completion of the training program. Similarly, the anthropometric index and waist circumference were diminished too. A moderate correlation was found between leptin and the anthropometric index. Finally, V˙O2max was significantly increased, suggesting an improvement of physical fitness in the intervention group. No changes were found in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Arm cranking exercise improved low-grade systemic inflammation by decreasing plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, it also reduced plasma leptin levels. Long-term, well-conducted studies are still required to determine whether these changes may improve clinical outcomes of adults with chronic SCI.
Medicine Department, School of Medicine, University of Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain.
Manuel
M
Rosety-Rodriguez
Division of Internal Medicine, Juan Ramon Jimenez Hospital, Huelva, Spain.
Alejandra
A
Camacho
Human Anatomy Department, School of Medicine, University of Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain.
Ignacio
I
Rosety
Medicine Department, School of Medicine, University of Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain.
Gabriel
G
Fornieles
School of Sports Medicine, University of Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain.
Miguel A
MA
Rosety
Medicine Department, School of Medicine, University of Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain.
Antonio J
AJ
Diaz
School of Speciality in Sports Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, "V. Erspamer," "Sapienza," University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Marco
M
Bernardi
School of Sports Medicine, University of Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain.
Manuel
M
Rosety
School of Sports Medicine, University of Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain. Electronic address: franciscojavier.ordonez@uca.es.
Francisco J
FJ
Ordonez
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000628:therapy*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D052242:Adiponectin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D020738:Leptin; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
AI; BMI; Exercise; IL-6; PAI-1; Rehabilitation; SCI; Spinal cord injuries; TNF-α; WC; anthropometric index; body mass index; interleukin-6; maximum oxygen consumption; o(2)max; plasminogen activator inhibitor-1; spinal cord injury; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; waist circumference