Comparison of cardiac autonomic modulation of athletes and non-athletes individuals with spinal cord injury at rest and during a non-immersive virtual reality task

Author(s):Show less -

Dias, Eduardo Dati ^{[1, 2]} ; de Menezes, Lilian Del Ciello ^{[2, 3]} ; da Silva, Talita Dias ^{[2, 4, 3]} ; da Silva, Nadja Moreira ^{[2, 3]} ; Vidal, Pamela Reis ^[2] ; Brondane, Bruno Renan ^{[2, 3]} ; Padula, Natalia ^{[2, 5]} ; Gaspar, Roberta Caveiro ^{[2, 5]} ; Santos, Sileno ^[6] ; Auricchio, Jose Ricardo ^[2] ; de Mello Monteiro, Carlos Bandeira ^[2] ; Domingo, Antoinette ^[7] ; de Oliveira, Camila Quel ^[8] ; de Macedo, Jacqueline Carla ^[2] ; Romanholo, Beatriz Mangueira Saraiva ^{[1, 4]} ; Barnabe, Viviani ^{[1, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Inst Assistencia Med Servidor Publ Estadual IAMSP, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo PATER EACH USP, Escola Artes Ciencias & Humanidades, Grp Pesquisa & Aplicacoes Tecnol Reabilitacao, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Med Cardiol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Cidade Sao Paulo UNICID, Fac Med, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[5] Acreditando Ctr Recuperacao Neuromotora Saude & B, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Hosp Clin, Lab Estudos Movimento, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[7] San Diego State Univ, Sch Exercise & Nutr Sci, San Diego, CA 92182 - USA

^[8] Univ Technol Sydney, Discipline Physiotherapy, Grad Sch Hlth, Sydney, NSW - Australia

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SPINAL CORD; v. 59, n. 12 NOV 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Study design Cross-sectional study. Objectives To compare cardiac autonomic modulation of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) that practice different amounts of moderate to vigorous physical activity (PA) and able-bodied controls at rest and during a non-immersive Virtual Reality task. Setting Athletes with SCI of wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair handball, WCMX (wheelchair motocross), and para-swimming were assessed at the Faca na Cadeira Institute, ICEL and Clube Esperia in Sao Paulo, Brazil; non-athletes with SCI and able-bodied controls were assessed at the Acreditando Centro de Recuperacao Neuromotora, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Methods One-hundred forty-five individuals were assessed: 36 athletes with traumatic SCI (41.1 +/- 16.8 years old), 52 non-athletes with traumatic SCI (40.2 +/- 14.1 years old), and 57 able-bodied individuals (39.4 +/- 12.5 years old). Cardiac autonomic modulation was assessed through heart rate variability (HRV) measured in the sitting position at rest and during a VR game activity. Results We found significantly more favourable HRV for athletes with SCI when compared to non-athletes with SCI, but no differences between athletes with SCI and able-bodied controls. In addition, athletes and able-bodied controls showed adequate autonomic nervous system (ANS) adaptation (rest versus physical activity in VR), i.e., they experienced parasympathetic withdrawal during VR physical activity, which was not found in non-athletes with SCI. Conclusion The practice of moderate to vigorous physical activity is associated with healthier cardiac autonomic modulation in adults with SCI, which may lead to more favourable health outcomes. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/08358-0 - Feasibility analysis of adaptable digital games for people with disabilities as a tool to support rehabilitation
• Grantee: Talita Dias da Silva Magalhães
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE