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Updated: May 16, 2026
Activity-based Training on a Treadmill with Spinal Cord Injured Wistar Rats
Published on: January 16, 2019
Effects of training status on arterial compliance in able-bodied persons and persons with spinal cord injury
S C Wong1, S S D Bredin, A V Krassioukov
1Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Study Design:
An investigation on large and small artery compliance in 36 able-bodied persons and persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of various training states (endurance-trained vs untrained) on arterial compliance in individuals with chronic SCI of traumatic origin and in able-bodied individuals (matched for age, sex, height, and weight).
Setting:
Tertiary rehabilitation center in Canada.
Methods:
Large and small artery compliance were measured at the radial artery and physical activity was assessed via questionnaire.
Results:
There was no significant difference in large artery compliance between groups. Small artery compliance was reduced markedly (5.8±3.1 ml mm Hg(-1) × 100) in untrained persons with SCI, in comparison to all other groups. Small artery compliance of endurance-trained individuals with SCI was slightly (4%) higher than that observed in the untrained able-bodied individuals (8.6±1.5 vs. 8.2±1.4 ml mm Hg(-1) × 100, respectively). Endurance-trained, able-bodied persons had greater small artery compliance (10.6±2.3 ml mm Hg(-1) × 100) in comparison to the all other groups.
Conclusion:
Endurance training is related to increased small artery compliance in able-bodied individuals and persons with SCI (who are matched for age, sex, height and weight). Endurance training may attenuate the decline in small artery compliance seen with SCI.
