Associations Between the Cardiovascular Risk Markers and Neuroplasticity in Sedentary or Physically Active Spinal Cord Injured Subjects of the Wheelchair Dancer Study

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