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1 Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
2 Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dditor{at}uwo.ca.
Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are prone to cardiovascular dysfunction and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Body-weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) may enhance ambulation in individuals with incomplete SCI, however, its effects on cardiovascular regulation have not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 6-months of BWSTT on the autonomic regulation of heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) in individuals with incomplete tetraplegia. Eight individuals (age 27.6 ± 5.2 yrs.) with SCI (C4-C5; ASIA B-C; 9.6 ± 7.5 years post injury) participated. Ten minute HR and finger arterial pressure (Finapres) recordings were collected during i) supine rest and, ii) an orthostatic stress (60° head-up tilt; (HUT)), before and after 6-months of BWSTT. Frequency domain measures of heart rate variability (HRV; Low frequency (LF) power, High frequency (HF) power and LF:HF ratio) and blood pressure variability (BPV; systolic and diastolic LF power), were used as clinically valuable indices of neurocardiac and neurovascular control, respectively. There was a significant reduction in HR (61.9 ± 6.9 vs. 55.7 ± 7.7 beats/min; p=0.05) and LF:HF ratio (1.23 ± 0.47 vs. 0.99 ± 0.40; p<0.05) after BWSTT. There was a significant reduction in LFSBP (183.1 ± 46.8 vs. 158.4 ± 45.2 mmHg2; p<0.01), but no change in BP. There were no significant effects of training on HRV or BPV during 60° HUT. In conclusion, individuals with incomplete tetraplegia retain the ability to make positive changes in cardiovascular autonomic regulation with BWSTT without worsening orthostatic intolerance.
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