Chronic activity-based therapy does not improve body composition, insulin-like growth factor-I, adiponectin, or myostatin in persons with spinal cord injury

AbstractSpinal cord injury (SCI) induces dramatic changes in body composition including reductions in fat-free mass (FFM) and increases in fat mass (FM).ObjectiveTo examine changes in body composition in response to chronic activity-based therapy (ABT) in persons with SCI.DesignLongitudinal exercise intervention.MethodsSeventeen men and women with SCI (mean age = 36.1 ± 11.5 years) completed 6 months of supervised ABT consisting of load bearing, resistance training, locomotor training, and functional electrical stimulation. At baseline and after 3 and 6 months of ABT, body weight, body fat, and FFM were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and fasting blood samples were obtained to assess changes in insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), adiponectin, and myostatin.ResultsAcross all subjects, there was no change (P > 0.05) in body weight, percent body fat, or FFM of the leg, arm, or trunk, whereas whole-body FFM declined (P = 0.02, 50.4 ± 8.4 to 49.2 ± 7.4 kg). No changes (P = 0.21–0.41) were de...