title: A 16-week randomized controlled trial evaluating the physical activity guidelines for adults with spinal cord injury.
abstract: METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of the physical activity guidelines (PAG) for adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) to improve aspects of physical fitness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community exercise facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three participants (age: 40.4±11.6 years, C1-T11, 12.0±10.0 years post injury) were randomized into PAG training (n=12) or active control (CON, n=11) groups. PAG training was 2x per week for 16 weeks and involved 20 min of aerobic exercise at a moderate to vigorous intensity and three sets of 10 repetitions (at 50-70% 1 repetition maximum; 1RM). Pre- and post-testing included peak exercise and aerobic endurance tests on an arm ergometer and 1RM testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen participants (PAG, n=11; CON, n=8) completed the 16-week training program and post-testing. There was a significant (P<0.05) increase in peak aerobic capacity (relative VO2peak: 17.2%, absolute VO2peak: 9.9%) and submaximal power output (26.3%) in the PAG group only. Increases in strength ranged from 11.5-38.9% and were significantly (P<0.05) different from CON for vertical bench press, seated row, and rickshaw press. Adherence to the exercise program was 85.2±8.3% for PAG, 44.4±34.3% for CON (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PAG for adults with SCI are sufficient to improve aspects of aerobic and muscular fitness and should be promoted as a means to improve physical capacity.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (ONF), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Totosy de Zepetnek
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hicks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D058748:Pain Perception; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*