SCI results in higher incidence of heart disease and diabetes and heart disease is the most common cause of death. Chronic inflammation, deleterious changes in vascular structure and impaired glucose metabolism are risk factors that contribute to both heart disease and diabetes. While exercise can help reduce these risk factors, paralysis and impaired accessibility often precludes exercise in persons with SCI. New research in able-bodied persons demonstrates passive heating decreases inflammation and improves vascular function. Similar studies in persons with SCI suggest they may also have the same health benefits however these studies only investigated the impact of short term (one episode) passive heating (as opposed to repeated bouts). Repeated bouts of heat exposure will likely be required to impact chronic inflammation, but this has never been tested in persons with SCI. This study will test the impact of repeated bouts (3x/week) of passive heat stress over a longer term (8 weeks) on inflammation, metabolism and vascular function.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
10
After arm 1, passive heat stress 3x/week x8 weeks.
participant engage in activity as usual
South Texas Health Care System, San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, Texas, United States
Interleukin-6
Plasma concentration, which was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
Time frame: change from 0 weeks to 8 weeks to 16 weeks
Maximal Cutaneous Vascular Conductance
Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) in response to local heating measured via laser doppler flowmetry. Following heating of the skin for 10 min at a temperature of 34C, the skin was locally heated to 45C, which was maintained for at least 30 min (maximal CVC). The values in the data table reflect the percentage of maximum conductance of the skin at 34 degrees Celsius, when the skin is heated to 45 degrees Celsius at each time point (i.e., baseline, after control, and after intervention).
Time frame: change from 0 weeks to 8 weeks to 16 weeks
Glucose Tolerance
glucose AUC from 3h oral glucose tolerance test
Time frame: change from 0 to 8 to 16 weeks
TNF-alpha
plasma concentration
Time frame: change from 0 to 8 to 16 weeks
Interleukin-1ra
plasma concentration
Time frame: change from 0 to 8 to 16 weeks
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