Home-based circuit resistance training to overcome barriers to exercise for people with spinal cord injury: a case study.

Background And Purpose: People with spinal cord injury (SCI) have limited options for aerobic exercise. Existing options are often difficult to access, or they result in muscle imbalances that can eventually contribute to joint dysfunction. These difficulties can cause individuals to live a more sedentary lifestyle, putting them at greater risk for developing obesity and other cardiovascular disease risk factors. Therefore, a mode of exercise that allows people with SCI an affordable, accessible, and effective way to engage in cardiovascular exercise is needed.

Case Description: The participant was a 44-year-old man with chronic, complete T12 SCI resulting from a motor vehicle accident 28 years ago. He participated in a case study evaluating the effectiveness of a home-based aerobic and strengthening exercise program.

Intervention: Outcome measures were assessed before and after completing a 12-week home-based circuit resistance training (CRT) program. The intervention was a modified version of a previously studied CRT program performed in a traditional gym that was designed to improve strength and aerobic fitness and to elicit healthy cholesterol levels in people with paraplegia.

Outcomes: After performing the CRT program, the participant demonstrated improvements in cardiovascular fitness and upper extremity strength. Cholesterol levels were unchanged. He also lost weight and his shoulder pain improved.

Discussion: The findings demonstrate the potential for some individuals with SCI to safely and effectively engage in aerobic and strengthening exercise in their home to improve or prevent cardiovascular-related risk factors.Video Abstract available (see Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A44) for more insights from the authors.