Rehabilitation for Spinal Cord Injuries

Authors: joy lin, Wenjie Ji, Alvina Li

SUNY Campus: SUNY Buffalo

Presentation Type: Poster

Location: UU 111

Presentation #: 66

Timeslot: Session D 3:00-4:00 PM

Abstract: Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) often impairs cardiovascular autonomic, cerebrovascular, and cognitive functions, with no effective non-drug interventions available. While exercise benefits these functions in non-injured populations, its impact on individuals with SCI remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of a single bout of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) on these functions in individuals with SCI compared to non-injured (NI) controls. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 12 individuals with SCI and 12 age- and sex-matched NI controls. Mean blood pressure (MBP), heart rate (HR), middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv), posterior cerebral artery blood velocity (PCAv), and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) scores were measured pre- and post-HIIE. Results: Post-HIIE, no significant differences were observed between groups in MBP during supine rest (p=0.212) or sit-up testing (p=0.549). HR during supine rest remained similar (p=0.565) but increased significantly during functional capacity testing in both groups (p=0.004). MCAv during rest (p=0.642) and cognitive testing (p=0.701) did not differ between groups. However, the SCI group showed a significant decline in SDMT scores post-HIIE compared to the NI group (p=0.005). Conclusion: Individuals with SCI exhibited similar cardiovascular autonomic and cerebrovascular responses to HIIE as NI controls, suggesting HIIE is a promising exercise intervention for the SCI population. However, the decline in cognitive performance post-exercise in the SCI group suggests greater susceptibility to cognitive fatigue during