We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Benefits of sports activities in persons with spinal cord injuries.
- Authors
Tajima, F.; Nakamura, K.; Ito, R.; Ide, M.; Kanno, N.; Nakamura, T.; Furusawa, K.; Umezu, Y.; Mizushima, T.; Okawa, H.
- Abstract
Most individuals with physical disabilities in Japan face the challenge of social handicap: however they strongly hope to work in society and to improve their quality of life and social activities. We examined persons with disabilities who undertook vocational opportunities and adequate medical care. Most of the injuries were spinal cord injuries (SCI) and we measured blood pressure, blood cell counts, plasma total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides (TG) in 21 SCI. The width of the intima-media of both sides of the carotid arteries was measured with a power Doppler sonography in 9 young and 9 middle-age workers with SCI (39±5.7 years). The results showed that there was no difference in blood pressures, TG, total cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol among the employees. The width of the intima-media of the carotid arteries in middle aged SCI subjects was greater (p<0.05) compared with young SCI. The amount of work-related physical activity in our SCI subjects was assessed to determine a satisfactory level to maintain these parameters in the normal range. And we investigated the maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) in 10 SCI subjects who regularly participate in recreational sports activity at least three times a weak (sports subjects)and 12 sedentary SCI subjects (sedentary subjects). VO2max in sports subjects was significantly greater than in the sedentary subjects. This finding suggests that regular recreational sports activity in SCI subjects improves VO2max.
- Subjects
JAPAN; SPORTS; SPINAL cord injuries; PEOPLE with disabilities; BLOOD pressure; PHYSICAL fitness
- Publication
Japanese Journal of Clinical Sports Medicine / Nihon Rinsho Supotsu, 2007, Vol 15, Issue 3, p9
- ISSN
1346-4159
- Publication type
Article