Blood metabolic response to a long-term wheelchair rugby training.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study with comparison group.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of long-term wheelchair rugby (WR) training on lipid profile, blood antioxidant status and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level.


METHODS
Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.


METHODS
Thirty-two males with chronic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) assigned into the physically active 'low-point' (LP, n=15) or 'high-point' (HP, n=8) WR players groups and the sedentary manual wheelchair users (SED, n=9) participated in this study. Fasting blood samples were collected at rest for assessment of activities of antioxidant enzymes, concentrations of reduced glutathione, uric acid, malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid profile measures and BDNF.


RESULTS
No significant differences were found in anthropometric measures and serum lipid profile indices, although a slight tendency toward higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was evidenced in WR players. Significantly lower serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and significantly higher levels of the overall enzymatic antioxidant potential index (EAP) in WR players, compared with SED, may reflect some WR training-induced increase in the blood's antioxidant capacity. There was also a slight tendency toward higher serum BDNF level in WR players compared with the SED group and a significant positive association between years of WR training and the BDNF level.


CONCLUSIONS
A voluntary participation in a long-term WR training program has several health promoting outcomes for individuals with chronic SCI. Among the most important are enhancement of the blood antioxidant defense capacity evidenced by lower MDA and higher EAP levels, as well as WR training-induced activation of BDNF signaling.
Department of Physiological and Medical Sciences, the Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
E
E
Sadowska-Krępa
Department of Adapted Physical Education, the Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
A
A
Zwierzchowska
Department of Adapted Physical Education, the Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
M
M
Głowacz
Department of Physiological and Medical Sciences, the Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
K
K
Borowiec-Rybak
Department of Physiological and Medical Sciences, the Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
B
B
Kłapcińska
D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D014910:Wheelchairs; D055815:Young Adult
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D008055:Lipids; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase