A randomized controlled trial on the effects of cycling with and without electrical stimulation on cardiorespiratory and vascular health in children with spinal cord injury.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the cardiorespiratory/vascular effects of cycling with and without functional electrical stimulation (FES) in children with spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Pediatric referral hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Children with SCI (N=30), ages 5 to 13 years, with injury levels from C4 to T11, and American Spinal Injury Association grades A, B, or C. INTERVENTIONS: Children were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: FES leg cycling exercise, passive leg cycling, or noncycling control group receiving electrical stimulation therapy. After receiving instruction on the use of the equipment, children exercised for 1 hour 3 times per week for 6 months at home with parental supervision. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Oxygen uptake (Vo(2)) during an incremental arm ergometry test, resting heart rate, forced vital capacity, and a fasting lipid profile. RESULTS: There were no differences (P>.05) between groups after 6 months of exercise when comparing pre- and postvalues. However, there were differences between groups for some variables when examining percent change. The FES cycling group showed an improvement (P=.035) in Vo(2) (16.2%+/-25.0%) as compared with the passive cycling group (-28.7%+/-29.1%). For lipid levels, the electrical stimulation-only group showed declines (P=.032) in cholesterol levels (-17.1%+/-8.5%) as compared with the FES cycling group (4.4%+/-20.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Cycling with FES led to gains in Vo(2), whereas electrical stimulation alone led to improvements in cholesterol.

Author information

Author/s: Johnston, Therese E (TE); Smith, Brian T (BT); Mulcahey, Mary J (MJ); Betz, Randal R (RR); Lauer, Richard T (RT);

Affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. t.johnston(-atsign-)usp.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation (Arch Phys Med Rehabil), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Aug; vol 90 (issue 8) : pp 1379-88

Dates: Created 2009/08/04; Completed 2009/09/15;

PMID: 19651272, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/15/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.