Health benefits of exercise training for spinal cord injury_V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The effect of high-intensity interval training on biomarkers of cardiometabolic health in persons with chronic paraplegia: A randomised controlled trial
IRAS ID
273867
Contact name
James Bilzon
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
Individuals with a spinal cord individual (SCI) have a higher mortality rate than non-disabled populations, largely explained by a higher prevalence of chronic diseases (e.g. cardiometabolic syndrome). High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a mode of exercise that may be an effective solution to improving cardiometabolic health and the prevalence of chronic disease, but has yet to be investigated in persons with chronic paraplegia (paralysis of the lower extremities, > 12 months post-injury). To determine this effect, a randomised controlled trial will recruit 32 (21 intervention: 11 control) adults with chronic paraplegia (SCI below T2). Participants will visit the University of Bath on two occasions (5 hours each) for a range of assessments performed before and immediately after a 6-week exercise intervention (or normal lifestyle for control group). This will include; a duel-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, resting metabolic rate, waist/hip circumferences, resting blood pressure, blood responses to an sugary drink, and a maximal exercise capacity test. Participants will also be asked to wear a physical activity monitor and record their food and drink intake for two 1-week periods (before and in the final week of the 6-week period). Participants randomised to the exercise intervention will be asked to perform HIIT (30 min per session) on four separate occasions per week on an arm crank ergometer delivered to their homes. The first exercise session will be supervised by one of the research team to ensure the equipment is correctly set-up.
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SW/0051
Date of REC Opinion
5 May 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion