Arm cranking exercise improves carbohydrate and lipid metabolic disorders in sedentary adults with chronic spinal cord injury

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To determine the influence of arm-cranking exercise (ACE) on improving disorders in sedentary adults with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Seventeen male adults with complete SCI at or below the 5th thoracic level (T5) volunteered for this community-based supervised intervention. Participants were randomly allocated to the intervention (n=9) or control group (n=8) using a concealed method. The intervention consisted of a 12-week arm cranking exercise program, 3 sessions/week, consisting of warming up (10-15 min) followed by arm-cranking (20-30 min [increasing by two minutes and 30 seconds each in three weeks]) at a moderate work intensity of 50-65% of heart rate reserve (HRR), (starting at 50% and increasing 5% each three weeks) and by a cooling-down period (5-10 min). Plasma lipids profile was assessed using standard methods and techniques. Lastly, insulin resistance was evaluated by the homeostasis model of assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). Results: After the completion of the training program, plasma lipid profile significantly improved. Similarly, insulin resistance was decreased. No changes were found in the control group. Conclusion: A short-term, 12-week arm cranking exercise program improves carbohydrate and lipid metabolic disorders in adults with chronic SCI. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2013;27(3):243-248]