Cutaneous vascular response and thermoregulation in individuals with paraplegia during sustained arm-cranking exercise

This study investigated whether a 60-minute arm-cranking exercise at 50% of the individual maximal power output would increase lower limb skin blood f low (laser Doppler flowmetry) in individuals with high-level (T5-T9; n = 6) and low-level paraplegia (T10-T12; n = 6), compared to 6 able-bodied contr ols. Significant (P < 0.05) group by time interactions (two-way repeated me asures ANOVA) were found for leg cutaneous vascular conductance, leg skin t emperature and esophageal temperature. Cutaneous vascular conductance incre ased to a peak of <similar to>180% of pre-exercise rest in both paraplegic groups and to similar to 436% in the control group, with differences after 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes of exercise. Leg skin temperature increased by si milar to0.3 degreesC in individuals with paraplegia and decreased by simila r to2.0 degreesC in able-bodied. Esophageal temperature increases at the en d of exercise were higher in individuals with paraplegia (similar to0.9 deg reesC) than in able-bodied subjects (similar to0.5 degreesC). Heart rate wa s higher in the paraplegic groups than in able-bodied, whilst stroke Volume and cardiac output were not different (impedance cardiography). The data s uggest that lesion level had no influence on the results. These findings in dicate that there is no excessive shunting of blood to the skin of the lowe r limbs of individuals with paraplegia during sustained exercise.