Article

Objectives:To execute an echocardiographic comparison
between trained and untrained spinal cord injury (SCI) subjects, and to evaluate
whether long-term heart adjustments to endurance training are comparable to those
observed in able-bodied (ABL) subjects.Setting:Italy.Methods:We enrolled: (1) 17
male SCI patients (lesion level T(1)-L(3), 34+/-8 years, body mass index (BMI)
23.0+/-2.8 kg m(-2)), 10 of whom were aerobically trained for >5 years (SCI(T));
(2) 18 age-, sex- and BMI-matched ABL subjects (35+/-6 years, BMI 23.6+/-2.8 kg
m(-2)), 10 of whom were aerobically trained for >5 years (ABL(T)). Training
frequency and volume were recorded by a dedicated questionnaire. All subjects
underwent a trans-thoracic echocardiography; SCI subjects also performed an
exhaustive incremental exercise test. Comparisons were made between ABL and SCI
groups, between trained and untrained subjects within each group (analysis of
variance).Results:Effects of SCI-Compared with ABL subjects, SCI patients showed
lower end-diastolic volume (76+/-21 vs 113+/-23 ml, P<0.05) and ejection fraction
(61+/-7% vs 65+/-5%, P<0.05). Effects of training-Compared with untrained status,
the intra-ventricular septum thickness (SCI, +18%; ABL, +4%), the posterior wall
thickness (SCI, +17%; ABL, +2%) and the total normalized heart mass (SCI, +48%;
ABL, +5%) were higher in both SCI(T) and in ABL(T). VO(2)peak was higher in the
SCI(T) subgroup compared with the SCI(U) group.Conclusions:Heart seems to
positively adapt to long-term endurance training in SCI patients. Regular
exercise may therefore increase heart size, septum and posterior wall thickness,
which likely contributes to improved VO(2)peak. These morphological and
functional changes may reduce cardiovascular risk in SCI individuals.

Langue : ANGLAIS