• H J Rianne Ravensbergen, Sonja de Groot, Marcel W Post, Helma M Bongers-Janssen, Lucas H van der Woude, and Victoria E Claydon.
• Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Research Institute MOVE Amsterdam, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
• Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2016 Sep 1; 97 (9): 1431-1439.

ObjectivesTo determine whether physical activity and participation 1 and 5 years after discharge are associated with measures of cardiovascular autonomic function: prevalence of hypotension and reduced peak heart rate at discharge from initial inpatient spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingRehabilitation centers.ParticipantsIndividuals with SCI (N=146).InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresWe recorded markers of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction (resting blood pressure and peak heart rate) and personal and lesion characteristics at the time of discharge from rehabilitation. Parameters for participation (social health status dimension of the Sickness Impact Profile) and physical activity (Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities [PASIPD]) were measured 1 and 5 years after discharge. Effects of prevalence of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction were analyzed using linear regression analysis while correcting for possible confounders.ResultsWe found no significant association between hypotension and social health status dimension of the Sickness Impact Profile or PASIPD, either at 1 or at 5 years after discharge. A significant association between peak heart rate and social health status dimension of the Sickness Impact Profile was found at 1 year after discharge, showing poorer participation in individuals with low peak heart rate (ie, cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction). The unadjusted relation between peak heart rate and the social health status dimension of the Sickness Impact Profile was significant at 5 years, but not when adjusted for confounders. We found associations between peak heart rate and PASIPD for both 1 and 5 years after discharge; however, these were not significant after correction for potential confounding factors.ConclusionsAutonomic dysfunction after SCI is a crucial factor influencing quality of life. We found that cardiovascular autonomic impairment, assessed from low peak heart rate, was associated with reduced participation after 1 year. The results suggest that peak heart rate at discharge from rehabilitation after SCI should be used to identify those needing additional support to facilitate physical activity and participation after discharge.Copyright © 2016 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

28 keywords...

hide…