The Relationship between Physical Activity Level and Functional Status of Subjects with High Spinal Cord Injury.

Background: Spinal cord injuries are one of disability in Poland and in the world.

Methods: 80 subjects with a transverse injury of the cervical spinal cord were enrolled in the study. The study group included men aged 20-50, 33.1 ± 7.5. A total of 40 (50%) of the subjects comprised the physically active group (AG)-subjects doing wheelchair sport twice a week for 90 min a day. The physically inactive group (IG) comprised 40 (50%) subjects who had not participated in any sports activities. Statistical analyses were carried out using Shapiro-Wilk W-test and Mann-Whitney U test.

Results: Significant differences were found between the physically active and inactive men with regard to their functionality status. The biggest differences were found for turning over ( < 0.001) and in adopting a sitting position ( < 0.001). Persons in the AG group had better results in all assessed activities. The biggest differences were observed in the field of toilet and dressing up: tooth-brushing < 0.007 and washing the top part of the body < 0.002.

Conclusions: People participating in regular physical activity-wheelchair rugby-after spinal cord injury have a better relationship with better fitness, greater independence and a better functional status.