Changes in Physical Capacity During and After Inpatient Rehabilitation in Subjects With a Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract 

Haisma JA, Bussmann JB, Stam HJ, Sluis TA, Bergen MP, Dallmeijer AJ, de Groot S, van der Woude LH. Changes in physical capacity during and after inpatient rehabilitation in subjects with a spinal cord injury.

Objective

To assess changes in physical capacity and its determinants in persons with a spinal cord injury.

Design

Prospective cohort study. Measurements at the start of active rehabilitation (t1), 3 months later (t2), at discharge (t3), and 1 year after discharge (t4).

Setting

Eight rehabilitation centers in The Netherlands.

Participants

A total of 186 subjects at t1 and 123 subjects at t4.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Peak aerobic power output (POpeak), peak oxygen uptake (Vo₂peak), muscle strength of the upper extremity (manual muscle test, handheld dynamometry), and respiratory function (forced expiratory flow per second, forced vital capacity).

Results

Random coefficient analysis demonstrated that the POpeak, Vo₂peak, strength, and respiratory function improved during inpatient rehabilitation, and that Vo₂peak, strength, and respiratory function continued to improve after discharge. Age, sex, and level and completeness of lesion were determinants of the change in components of physical capacity.

Conclusions

Physical capacity improves during inpatient rehabilitation, and some components continue to improve after discharge. Subpopulations have a different level of (change in) physical capacity. The components of physical capacity are related; intervention studies are needed to confirm whether training 1 component could improve another component.

Key Words:  Exercise test , Muscles , Rehabilitation , Respiratory function tests , Spinal cord injuries