Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 90, Issue 10 , Pages 1755-1759, October 2009

Increased Participation in Activities of Daily Living Is Associated With Lower Cholesterol Levels in People With Spinal Cord Injury

  • Samuel P. Hetz, BSc

      Affiliations

    • School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
    • ,
  • Amy E. Latimer, PhD

      Affiliations

    • School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to Amy E. Latimer, PhD, School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Physical Education Centre, 69 Union St, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada, K7L 3N6
    • ,
  • Andrea C. Buchholz, PhD, RD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Family Relations and Applied Human Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
    • ,
  • Kathleen A. Martin Ginis, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
    • ,
  • SHAPE-SCI Research Group

Abstract 

Hetz SP, Latimer AE, Martin Ginis KA, Buchholz AC, and the SHAPE-SCI Research Group. Increased participation in activities of daily living is associated with lower cholesterol levels in people with spinal cord injury.

Objective

To evaluate the relationships between activities of daily living (ADLs) participation and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors in people with spinal cord injury.

Design

Cross-sectional.

Setting

Community, university, hospital.

Participants

Participants (N=75) from the Study of Health and Activity in People With Spinal Cord Injury study (61 men, 14 women).

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Physical Activity Recall Assessment for People With Spinal Cord Injury and CHD risk factor assessment including waist circumference, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides.

Results

Using generalized linear models, and controlling for leisure time physical activity and covariates, increased Mobility ADLs (transferring and wheeling) were associated with lower plasma total cholesterol and LDL. No other significant relationships emerged.

Conclusions

Mobility ADLs were associated with lower total cholesterol and LDL. However, neither Total ADLs nor Domestic ADLs were associated with CHD risk. Further investigation is needed to determine causality between Mobility ADLs and CHD risk.

Key Words: Activities of daily living, Coronary heart disease, Rehabilitation, Spinal cord injuries

List of Abbreviations: ADLs, activities of daily living, CHD, coronary heart disease, GLM, generalized linear models, HDL, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LPL, lipoprotein lipase, LTPA, leisure time physical activity, NEAT, nonexercise activity thermogenesis, PARA-SCI, Physical Activity Recall Assessment for People With Spinal Cord Injury, SCI, spinal cord injury, SHAPE-SCI, Study of Health and Activity in People With Spinal Cord Injury

 

 Supported by the Canadian Institute for Health Research New Investigator Award (award no. MOP-57778).

 No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.

 Reprints are not available from the author.

PII: S0003-9993(09)00415-8

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2009.04.021

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 90, Issue 10 , Pages 1755-1759, October 2009

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