title: Hybrid functional electrical stimulation exercise training alters the relationship between spinal cord injury level and aerobic capacity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that hybrid functional electrical stimulation (FES) row training would improve aerobic capacity but that it would remain strongly linked to level of spinal cord lesion because of limited maximal ventilation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal before-after trial of 6 months of FES row training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Exercise for persons with disabilities program in a hospitaL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Volunteers (N=14; age range, 21-63y) with complete spinal cord injury (SCI) (T3-11) who are >2 years postinjury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six months of FES row training preceded by a variable period of FES strength training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peak aerobic capacity and peak exercise ventilation before and after 6 months of FES row training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FES row training significantly increased peak aerobic capacity and peak minute ventilation (both P<.05). Prior to FES row training, there was a close relation between level of SCI and peak aerobic capacity (adjusted R(2)=.40, P=.009) that was markedly reduced after FES row training (adjusted R(2)=.15, P=.10). In contrast, the relation between level of injury and peak minute ventilation was comparable before and after FES row training (adjusted R(2)=.38 vs .32, both P<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increased aerobic capacity reflects more than increased ventilation; FES row training effectively circumvents the effect of SCI on peak aerobic capacity by engaging more muscle mass for training, independent of the level of injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Spaulding Hospital Cambridge, Cambridge, MA. Electronic address: jandrew_taylor@hms.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: J Andrew
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Spaulding Hospital Cambridge, Cambridge, MA.
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Picard
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Spaulding Hospital Cambridge, Cambridge, MA.
authors.forename: Aidan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA.
authors.forename: Leslie R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Spaulding Hospital Cambridge, Cambridge, MA.
authors.forename: Meghan F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Pronovost
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Spaulding Hospital Cambridge, Cambridge, MA; France INSERM-U1093 Cognition, Action, and Sensorimotor Plasticity, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Gaelle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Exercise; Rehabilitation