Cardiovascular Risk Markers in Spinal Cord Injured Subjects of the Wheelchair Dancer Study

Paracelsus Medical University (PMU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: SCI - Spinal Cord Injury; Cardiovascular Risk Factor

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03352505

UISM-12

Details and patient eligibility

About

The present study will analyze if exercise is able to elicit the well-known anti-atherogenic effects in patients with SCI. This will be evaluated by measuring vascular parameters such as endothelial and inflammatory blood markers, echocardiography of the heart and peripheral vessels, as well as blood pressure and arterial stiffness, in subjects performing either wheelchair dancing, wheelchair marathon or no sports. Further, it will be investigated, whether there is an association between neuroplasticity and cardiovascular health, as measured by electroencephalography (EEG), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and blood levels of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

We hypothesize that the cardiovascular, physical and psychological benefits of wheelchair dancing and/or wheelchair marathon parallel improved neuroplasticity in SCI-patients

Enrollment: 54 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 80 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

wheelchair users independent of the cause of the walking impairment, preferably with spinal cord injury.

Exclusion criteria

metallic implanters, additional neurologic pathologies, pregnancy

Trial design

54 participants in 4 patient groups

control

Description:

healthy walking control participants

wheelchair dancer

Description:

wheelchair users, who are performing wheelchair dancing

wheelchair marathon participants

Description:

wheelchair users, who are participants in wheelchair/ handbike Marathon competitions

sedentary wheelchair patients

Description:

wheelchair users, who conduct exercise bouts less than 2 times per month