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Published on: June 16, 2016
Influence of Relative Strength on Functional Independence of Patients With Spinal Cord Injury
Frederico Ribeiro Neto1, Patrícia Guanais1, Guilherme H Lopes2
1SARAH Rehabilitation Hospital Network, Brasília/DF, Brazil.
Objective:
To investigate the influence of strength values and fat mass on functional independence of men with different spinal cord injury (SCI) levels.
Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Setting:
Hospital network.
Participants:
Men with SCI (N=45).
Interventions:
Subjects were assessed in functional independence scales, a 1 repetition maximum (1RM) test, and body composition to detect absolute and relative strength: 1RM divided by body mass (BM) and lean body mass (LBM), respectively.
Main Outcome Measures:
Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to verify the influence of predictors on functional independence (FIM and Spinal Cord Independence Measure [SCIM] scale and subscales). Receiver operating characteristic curves were created to identify cutoff points of strength for functional independence.
Results:
The best models for FIM total, FIM mobility, and SCIM total used 1RM as the best predictor (adjusted R2=.75, .67, and .65, respectively; P<.05). Relative strength (1RM/LBM) was the best predictor for SCIM mobility (adjusted R2=.62, P<.05). A FIM score of 69 has a 1RM cutoff point of 50.1kg, and a FIM score of 76 has cutoff points of .73 for 1RM/BM and .91 for 1RM/LBM. A SCIM score of 68 has cutoff points for 1RM, 1RM/BM, and 1RM/LBM of 50.1kg, .77, and .92, respectively.
Conclusions:
Cutoff points of relative strength should be used as determinant variables for independence, health, or sports performance. This study may contribute to more adequate guidance of physical activity during a rehabilitation program and after discharge.
