High-intensity Interval Training for Cardiometabolic Health in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury
- Conditions
- Paraplegia
- Interventions
- Behavioral: High-intensity interval training
- Registration Number
- NCT04397250
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Bath
- Brief Summary
Persons with chronic paraplegia at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes compared to the able-bodied population. There is mounting evidence from the able-bodied literature that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is an effective way to improve cardiometabolic health outcomes, but this effect has yet to be investigated in persons with chronic paraplegia.
This study is recruiting adults (aged 18-65 years) with paraplegia (T2 or below) who sustained their spinal cord injury more than one-year ago. Participants will need to attend the laboratory at the University of Bath on two occasions (baseline and follow-up testing) separated by eight weeks. Following the first visit, participants will be randomised to a exercise group or control group. For those in the exercise group, participants will be provided with an arm crank ergometer for use in their home, and be asked to perform four exercise sessions per week (30 min each) for six weeks. For those in the control group, participants will be asked to continue their normal lifestyle.
- Detailed Description
The aim of this research is to determine the effect of HIIT (vs. a control group) on biomarkers of cardiometabolic health in persons with chronic paraplegia.
Baseline and follow-up assessments:
Before each visits, participants will be asked to refrain from any strenuous physical activity (2 days prior), consume no caffeine (including tea or coffee) or alcohol (1 day prior), and have fasted for at least 10 hours overnight before arriving to the University of Bath laboratories.
There will be measurements of basic anthropometrics (height, weight, waist and hip circumference), body composition (via a DEXA scan), resting metabolic rate, sub-maximal and maximal exercise capacity, and blood responses following the consumption of a sugary drink.
Physical activity and diet monitoring:
Participants will be asked to monitor their normal diet (weighed food diary) and physical activity patterns (chest-worn strap) over a 1-week period following the first visit, and in the final week of the 6-week intervention/control period.
Exercise intervention:
The 6-week exercise programme or control will start two weeks after the first lab visit. Participants in the exercise group will be asked to wear a heart-rate monitor for all exercise sessions, and upload their data to a smartphone for remote-monitoring by the research team.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- UNKNOWN
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 32
- Individuals with a chronic (>12 months post-injury) SCI below T2
- Individuals who spend >75% of their waking day in a wheelchair
- Weight stable (weight not changed by >3% over the last 3 months)
- Individuals who an acute (<12 months post-injury) SCI
- Individuals who spend <75% of their waking day in a wheelchair
- Individuals on type-2 diabetes medication
- Individuals self-reporting active medical issues (pressure sores, urinary tract infections, cardiac disorders, musculoskeletal complaints of the upper extremities, or cardiovascular contraindications to exercise testing)
- Plans to change lifestyle during the study period
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description High-intensity interval training High-intensity interval training Participants will be asked to perform four 30 minutes bouts of high-intensity interval exercise per week.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Peak power output 6 weeks Maximum power output achieved during peak aerobic capacity test
Fasting insulin 6 weeks Serum insulin concentration
Peak aerobic capacity 6 weeks Measured using a incremental ramp protocol on a arm crank ergometer
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Body mass 6 weeks Measured using electronic wheelchair scales
Total body fat percentage 6 weeks Measured using duel-energy x-ray absorptiometry
Waist and hip circumference 6 weeks Measured using a non-metallic tape
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure 6 weeks Measuring using a automated sphygmomanometer
Resting metabolic rate 6 weeks Measured using indirect calorimetry
Total Fat-Free Mass 6 weeks Measured using duel-energy x-ray absorptiometry
Time spent in different physical activity intensities (MET categories) (minutes) 6 weeks Time spent in different physical activity intensities across 7-days (MET categories) (minutes)
Postprandial metabolites 6 weeks Assessment of blood glucose and insulin
Shoulder Pain 6 weeks Measured using a validated questionnaire
Fatigue 6 weeks Measured using a validated questionnaire
Independence 6 weeks Measured using a validated questionnaire
Exercise Self-Efficacy 6 weeks Measuring using a validated questionnaire
Total Fat Mass 6 weeks Measured using duel-energy x-ray absorptiometry
Visceral Adipose Tissue 6 weeks Measured using duel-energy x-ray absorptiometry
Fasting metabolite/hormone/inflammatory profile 6 weeks Assessment of blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, and low density lipoprotein concentrations, leptin, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumour-necrosis factor-alpha, and adiponectin
Health-related quality of life 6 weeks Measured using a validated questionnaire
Energy expended in different physical activity intensities (MET categories) (kJ or kcal) 6 weeks Energy expended in different physical activity intensities across 7-days (MET categories) (kJ or kcal)
Energy intake and dietary macronutrient composition 6 weeks Estimated using a 7-day weighed food diary
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
University of Bath
🇬🇧Bath, United Kingdom