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Updated: Jul 6, 2026
Evaluation of Respiratory Muscle Activation Using Respiratory Motor Control Assessment (RMCA) in Individuals with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: July 19, 2013
Association between mobility mode and C-reactive protein levels in men with chronic spinal cord injury
Leslie R Morse1, Kelly Stolzmann, Hiep P Nguyen
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. lmorse4@partners.org
Objective:
To assess clinical determinants of systemic inflammation in persons with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI).
Design:
Cross-sectional survey.
Setting:
Veterans Affairs medical center.
Participants:
As part of an epidemiologic study assessing SCI-related health conditions, 63 men with chronic SCI provided a blood sample and information regarding locomotive mode and personal habits.
Interventions:
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measure:
Plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP).
Results:
The mean +/- standard deviation age was 56+/-14y, and participants were assessed 21+/-13y after injury. Adjusting for heart disease, hypertension, and body mass index (BMI), the mean CRP in 12 motorized wheelchair users (5.11mg/L) was not significantly greater than 23 participants who used a manual wheelchair (2.19mg/L) (P=.085) but was significantly greater than the 17 who walked with an assistive device (1.41mg/L) (P=.005) and the 12 who walked independently (1.63mg/L) (P=.027). CRP was significantly greater in participants with obesity but was not related to age, smoking, or SCI level and severity. CRP was elevated in participants reporting a urinary tract infection (UTI) or pressure ulcer within a year, but adjustment for this did not account for the elevated CRP in motorized wheelchair users.
Conclusions:
These results suggest that CRP in chronic SCI is independently related to locomotive mode, BMI, and a history of pressure ulcers and UTI. It is suggested that future studies in SCI investigate whether modifying these factors influence systemic inflammation and cardiovascular health.
