EFFECTS OF ELECTRICAL-STIMULATION AND UPPER-BODY TRAINING AFTER SPINAL-CORD INJURY

The purpose of this study was to measure the cardiorespiratory improve ments during the initial weeks of training in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Eight adult volunteers (ages 23-41) with paraplegia (T4-L1, N = 7) and low levels of quadriplegia (C7, N = 1) participate d in a 12-wk training program consisting of 6 wk of computerized funct ional electrical stimulation leg ergometry (CFES LE) followed by 6 wk of combined arm ergometry and CFES LE (hybrid ergometry; HE). Measures of peak oxygen consumption (PV02) and immediate post-exercise blood l actate (La-) were collected during an intermittent CFES LE graded exer cise test (3-min stages; 1/8-kp increments) prior to training (0T), fo llowing 6 wk of CFES LE training (6T) and following 6 wk of HE trainin g (12T). Voluntary arm ergometry (AE) graded exercise tests were also completed at each of 0T, 6T, and 12T, and an intermittent graded HE te st was also given at 6T and 12T. Following the 6 wk of CFES LE, AE pVO 2 increased from 1.14 +/- 0.09 l.min-1 to 1.39 +/- 0.172 l.min-1 (P < 0.05), and CFES LE pVO2 increased from 0.51 +/- 0.05 l.min-1 to 0.83 /- 0.06 l.min-1(P < 0.05). Following the 6 wk of HE, HE pVO2 increased from 1.31 +/- 0.15 l.min-1 to 1.49 +/- 0.14 l.min-1 (P < 0.05). HE pV O2 was 58%-60% higher than CFES LE pVO2 at the mid- and post-testing p eriods. HE PVO2 was 14% higher than AE pVO2 at the post-testing period . There were no significant differences in measures of blood La- over time or between the types of tests. The results indicate that for indi viduals with SCI, HE provides a greater cardiorespiratory stress than either CFES LE or AE alone, and that peripheral neuromuscular improvem ent occurred in response to repeated exposure to CFES LE.