The effects of body-weight supported treadmill training on cardiovascular regulation in individuals

Snowman · 06-23-2005, 09:04 AM

Spinal Cord. 2005 Jun 21; [Epub ahead of print] Related Articles, Links

The effects of body-weight supported treadmill training on cardiovascular regulation in individuals with motor-complete SCI.

Ditor DS, Macdonald MJ, Kamath MV, Bugaresti J, Adams M, McCartney N, Hicks AL.

1Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Study design:Four-month longitudinal within-subject exercise training study.Objective:Although body-weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) has not shown promise as a means of improving ambulation in individuals with motor-complete spinal cord injury (SCI), it may still improve cardiovascular health and function in this population. The purpose of this study was to (i) investigate the effects of BWSTT on peripheral muscular and elastic artery dimension and function and measures of heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure variability (BPV) in individuals with motor-complete SCI, and (ii) to make a preliminary examination of what factors may predict favourable cardiovascular outcomes following BWSTT in this population.Setting:Centre for Health Promotion and Rehabilitation, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.Methods:Six individuals (four male, two female; age 37.7+/-15.4 years) with chronic SCI (C4-T12; ASIA A-B; 7.6+/-9.4 years post-injury) were included in the present investigation. Doppler ultrasound was used to determine femoral (exercising; muscular), carotid (elastic) and brachial (nonexercising control; muscular) artery dimension and function before and after 4 months of BWSTT. Continuous heart rate and blood pressure were also recorded before and after 4-months of BWSTT to determine frequency domain measures of HRV and BPV; clinically valuable indices of neurocardiac and neurovascular control, respectively.Results:Two-way ANOVA (vessel x time) revealed no exercise-induced change in femoral or carotid artery cross-sectional area, blood flow or resistance and no change in carotid artery compliance following the 4 months of BWSTT compared to the nonexercising control brachial artery. However, there was a significant exercise-induced increase in femoral artery compliance. There were no exercise-induced changes in HRV or BPV when all participants were considered together. However, the results suggest that the subgroup of individuals who had a substantial heart rate response to BWSTT (n=3), experienced exercise-training induced changes in HRV reflective of a relative shift toward cardiac vagal predominance and reductions in BPV.Conclusions:BWSTT may cause an increase in femoral artery compliance in individuals with motor-complete SCI and therefore, should be encouraged as a means of improving cardiovascular health in this population. BWSTT may also cause modest improvements in measures of HRV and BPV in a select subgroup of individuals who respond to ambulation with moderate to large increases in HR. In the present study, factors associated with a substantial HR response to BWSTT were a propensity to orthostatic intolerance and muscular spasticity.Spinal Cord advance online publication, 21 June 2005; doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101785.

Eric Harness,CSCS
Director of Research, Training, and Development
Project Walk®

bruce · 06-23-2005, 04:14 PM

Interesting results, Eric. Thanks for sharing this. Are you training any folks in this population at PW, and are you seeing any HRV or BPV changes?

Mike C · 06-24-2005, 07:08 AM

Any idea how long they trained per day, and intervals per week over the four month span?

"So I have stayed as I am, without regret, seperated from the normal human condition." Guy Sajer

alex74 · 06-24-2005, 10:32 AM

i participated in this study but i was asked to leave due to frequent absences due to bladder infections. while i was a participant i did notice an improvement regarding my endurance and spasms....not to mention it felt great to get up on my feet again!!!!! too bad the prof. in charge wasn't such a dick and didn't have more compassion to people with SCI with regards to bladder issues!!!!!!!!

artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

Mike C · 06-24-2005, 01:03 PM

Alex, how often were you supposed to walk each week? How long per session?

"So I have stayed as I am, without regret, seperated from the normal human condition." Guy Sajer

alex74 · 06-25-2005, 07:06 AM

i started off for 10 mins then gradually worked my way up to 45 mins....with small breaks inbetween......it was a great workout even though people were moving your legs...i was there 3x wk when i wasn't having bladder issuses.

artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

06-23-2005, 09:04 AM	#1
Snowman Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Carlsbad, Ca USA Posts: 928	The effects of body-weight supported treadmill training on cardiovascular regulation in individuals Spinal Cord. 2005 Jun 21; [Epub ahead of print] Related Articles, Links The effects of body-weight supported treadmill training on cardiovascular regulation in individuals with motor-complete SCI. Ditor DS, Macdonald MJ, Kamath MV, Bugaresti J, Adams M, McCartney N, Hicks AL. 1Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Study design:Four-month longitudinal within-subject exercise training study.Objective:Although body-weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) has not shown promise as a means of improving ambulation in individuals with motor-complete spinal cord injury (SCI), it may still improve cardiovascular health and function in this population. The purpose of this study was to (i) investigate the effects of BWSTT on peripheral muscular and elastic artery dimension and function and measures of heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure variability (BPV) in individuals with motor-complete SCI, and (ii) to make a preliminary examination of what factors may predict favourable cardiovascular outcomes following BWSTT in this population.Setting:Centre for Health Promotion and Rehabilitation, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.Methods:Six individuals (four male, two female; age 37.7+/-15.4 years) with chronic SCI (C4-T12; ASIA A-B; 7.6+/-9.4 years post-injury) were included in the present investigation. Doppler ultrasound was used to determine femoral (exercising; muscular), carotid (elastic) and brachial (nonexercising control; muscular) artery dimension and function before and after 4 months of BWSTT. Continuous heart rate and blood pressure were also recorded before and after 4-months of BWSTT to determine frequency domain measures of HRV and BPV; clinically valuable indices of neurocardiac and neurovascular control, respectively.Results:Two-way ANOVA (vessel x time) revealed no exercise-induced change in femoral or carotid artery cross-sectional area, blood flow or resistance and no change in carotid artery compliance following the 4 months of BWSTT compared to the nonexercising control brachial artery. However, there was a significant exercise-induced increase in femoral artery compliance. There were no exercise-induced changes in HRV or BPV when all participants were considered together. However, the results suggest that the subgroup of individuals who had a substantial heart rate response to BWSTT (n=3), experienced exercise-training induced changes in HRV reflective of a relative shift toward cardiac vagal predominance and reductions in BPV.Conclusions:BWSTT may cause an increase in femoral artery compliance in individuals with motor-complete SCI and therefore, should be encouraged as a means of improving cardiovascular health in this population. BWSTT may also cause modest improvements in measures of HRV and BPV in a select subgroup of individuals who respond to ambulation with moderate to large increases in HR. In the present study, factors associated with a substantial HR response to BWSTT were a propensity to orthostatic intolerance and muscular spasticity.Spinal Cord advance online publication, 21 June 2005; doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101785. Eric Harness,CSCS Director of Research, Training, and Development Project Walk®

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06-23-2005, 04:14 PM	#2
bruce Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: seattle - usa Posts: 854	Interesting results, Eric. Thanks for sharing this. Are you training any folks in this population at PW, and are you seeing any HRV or BPV changes?

06-24-2005, 07:08 AM	#3
Mike C Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deutschland Posts: 4,894	Any idea how long they trained per day, and intervals per week over the four month span? "So I have stayed as I am, without regret, seperated from the normal human condition." Guy Sajer

06-24-2005, 10:32 AM	#4
alex74 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, ON, CANADA Posts: 218	i participated in this study but i was asked to leave due to frequent absences due to bladder infections. while i was a participant i did notice an improvement regarding my endurance and spasms....not to mention it felt great to get up on my feet again!!!!! too bad the prof. in charge wasn't such a dick and didn't have more compassion to people with SCI with regards to bladder issues!!!!!!!! artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

06-24-2005, 01:03 PM	#5
Mike C Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deutschland Posts: 4,894	Alex, how often were you supposed to walk each week? How long per session? "So I have stayed as I am, without regret, seperated from the normal human condition." Guy Sajer

06-25-2005, 07:06 AM	#6
alex74 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, ON, CANADA Posts: 218	i started off for 10 mins then gradually worked my way up to 45 mins....with small breaks inbetween......it was a great workout even though people were moving your legs...i was there 3x wk when i wasn't having bladder issuses. artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.