Effects of Circuit Resistance Training on Fitness Attributes and Upper-Extremity Pain in Middle-Aged Men With Paraplegia

Abstract 

Nash MS, van de Ven I, van Elk N, Johnson BM. Effects of circuit resistance training on fitness attributes and upper-extremity pain in middle-aged men with paraplegia.

Objective

To examine the effects of circuit resistance exercise (CRT) training on muscle strength, endurance, anaerobic power, and shoulder pain in middle-aged men with paraplegia.

Design

Repeated testing.

Setting

Academic medical center.

Participants

Seven men (age range, 39−58y) with motor-complete paraplegia from T5 to T12 and confirmed shoulder pain occurring during daily activities.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Subjects underwent a 4-month CRT program using alternating resistance maneuvers and high-speed, low-resistance arm exercise. One-repetition maximal force was measured before training and monthly thereafter. Pretraining and posttraining peak oxygen uptake (Vo₂peak) was measured by graded arm testing. Anaerobic power was measured before and after training using a 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test. Shoulder pain was self-evaluated by an index validated for people with spinal cord injury (Wheelchair Users Shoulder Pain Index [WUSPI]).

Results

Strength increases ranging from 38.6% to 59.7% were observed for all maneuvers (P range, .005−.008). Vo₂peak increased after training by 10.4% (P=.01), and peak and average anaerobic power increased by 6% (P=.001) and 8.6% (P=.005), respectively. WUSPI scores ± standard deviation were lowered from 31.9±24.8 to 5.7±5.9 (P=.008), with 3 of 7 subjects reporting complete resolution of shoulder pain.

Conclusions

CRT improves muscle strength, endurance, and anaerobic power of middle-aged men with paraplegia while significantly reducing their shoulder pain.

Key Words: Exercise, Pain, Paraplegia, Physical fitness, Rehabilitation