title: Impact of Wheelchair Rugby on Body Composition of Subjects With Tetraplegia: A Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the longitudinal effects of wheelchair rugby (WR) training on body composition of subjects with tetraplegia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were evaluated at baseline and after WR training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Faculty of physical education settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals with tetraplegia (N=13; age, 26.6±6.0y).
  
  
  METHODS
  Four sessions per week of WR training composed by aerobic and anaerobic activities and technical and tactical aspects of WR. The average time of intervention was 8.1±2.5 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Body composition assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After training, fat mass was significantly reduced in the whole body (15,191±4603 vs 13,212±3318 g, P=.016), trunk (7058±2639 vs 5693±1498 g, P=.012), and legs (2847±817 vs 2534±742 g, P=.003). Conversely, increased bone mineral content (183±35 vs 195±32 g, P=.01) and fat-free mass (2991±549 vs 3332±602 g, P=.016) in the arms and reduced bone mineral content in the trunk (553±82 vs 521±86 g, P=.034) were observed after training. Furthermore, no significant correlation between the duration of training and changes in body composition was detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regular WR training increased lean mass and bone mineral content in the arms and decreased total body fat mass. Conversely, WR training was associated with decreased bone mineral content in the trunk. These results suggest that regular WR training improves body composition in subjects with tetraplegia.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: gorla@fef.unicamp.br.
authors.forename: José I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Gorla
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Faculty of Physical Education, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, PA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anselmo de A
authors.initials: Ade A
authors.lastname: Costa e Silva
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Tanhoffer
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Priscila S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Godoy
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education, University of Maringá, Maringá, Pr, Brazil.
authors.forename: Décio R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Calegari
authors.affiliation: Service of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Allan de O
authors.initials: Ade O
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Service of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Celso D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nadruz Junior
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Department of Electrical Engineering University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cliquet Junior
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm; D001823:Body Composition; D015519:Bone Density; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D064846:Sports for Persons with Disabilities / Q000502:physiology*; D060726:Torso; D014910:Wheelchairs; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Physical fitness; Rehabilitation; Spinal cord injuries