José Irineu Gorla

Physical Activity and Improved Diastolic Function in Spinal Cord-Injured Subjects.

PURPOSE Subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI) have been reported to present impaired left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in comparison with able-bodied (AB) ones. The present study investigated the effect of regular physical activity on the cardiac structure and function of SCI subjects. METHODS Fifty-eight SCI men (29 sedentary [SCI-S] and 29 athletes [SCI-A]) and 29 AB men were cross-sectionally evaluated by clinical, laboratory, hemodynamic, and echocardiographic analysis. All enrolled subjects were normotensive, nondiabetic, nonsmoker, and normolipemic, and the studied groups presented similar age and body mass index. RESULTS SCI-S presented similar LV structural and systolic parameters but higher E/Em (8.0 ± 0.5) and lower Em/Am (1.18 ± 0.09) ratios than SCI-A and AB (E/Em = 6.4 ± 0.3 and 5.9 ± 0.3, respectively; Em/Am = 1.57 ± 0.12 and 1.63 ± 0.08, respectively; all P < 0.05 compared with SCI-S). Analysis of SCI individuals according to injury level revealed that tetraplegic athletes had similar features compared with sedentary tetraplegic subjects, except for higher Em (10.9 ± 0.6 vs 8.6 ± 0.7 cm s, P < 0.05) and lower E/Em ratio (6.3 ± 0.4 vs 8.8 ± 0.8, P < 0.05), whereas paraplegic athletes had similar features compared with sedentary paraplegic individuals, except for higher LV end-diastolic diameter (49.4 ± 1.4 vs 45.0 ± 1.0 mm, P < 0.05) and Em/Am ratio (1.69 ± 0.20 vs 1.19 ± 0.08, P < 0.05) and lower LV relative wall thickness (0.330 ± 0.012 vs 0.369 ± 0.010, P < 0.05) and heart rate (67.1 ± 4.2 vs 81.9 ± 2.8 bpm, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Regular physical activity is associated with improved LV diastolic function in SCI subjects and might exert distinct cardiac structural effects in tetraplegic and paraplegic subjects.

Sport injuries in elite paralympic swimmers with visual impairment

CONTEXT Visually impaired athletes sustain overuse injuries in the lower limbs, but the pattern of injuries may vary according to the sport. The characteristics of sports injuries in visually impaired swimmers are unknown. OBJECTIVE To determine the characteristics and epidemiologic measures (prevalence, clinical incidence, and incidence rate) of sports injuries in visually impaired elite national swimmers and to assess differences among visual classes and between sexes. DESIGN Descriptive epidemiology study. SETTING International Paralympic competitions held between 2004 and 2008. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Twenty-eight elite, visually impaired swimmers (19 males, 9 females) from the Brazilian Paralympic Team participated in this study. Twelve were visual class S11 (blind swimmers), 12 were S12 (low-vision swimmers), and 4 were S13 (low-vision swimmers). INTERVENTION(S) A standardized report form was used to collect data during 5 competitions. This was endorsed by 2 Brazilian sports governing bodies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The characteristics, prevalence, clinical incidence, and incidence rate of injuries were calculated. RESULTS Eighteen athletes reported 41 sports injuries, with a prevalence of 64%, clinical incidence of 1.5 injuries per athlete, and an incidence rate of 0.3 injuries per athlete per competition. Overuse injuries (80%) were more frequent than traumatic injuries (20%). The clinical incidence and prevalence varied according to sex and visual class, but no statistical differences were observed (P > .05). The highest proportion of injuries was in the trunk (46.34%), followed by the upper limbs (34.15%). The shoulders (29.27%) were most affected, followed by the thoracic (21.95%) and lumbar spine (17.07%). Spasm (36.59%) was the most frequent diagnosis, followed by tendinopathy (26.83%). CONCLUSIONS Visually impaired swimmers had a relatively high proportion of overuse injuries, predominantly associated with muscle spasm in the spine and tendinopathy in the shoulders. No differences were apparent in injury prevalence and clinical incidence among visual classes or between sexes.

Physical activity is associated with improved subclinical atherosclerosis in spinal cord injury subjects independent of variation in traditional risk factors.

injury subjects independent of variation in traditional risk factors☆ Jose R. Matos-Souza , Anselmo A. Silva , Luis F. Campos , Debora Goulart , Roberto Schreiber , Guilherme de Rossi , Jose A. Pio-Magalhaes , Mauricio Etchebehere , Jose I. Gorla , Alberto Cliquet Jr. , Wilson Nadruz Jr. a,⁎ a Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil b School of Physical Education, State University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil c Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil d Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Sao Paulo (USP), Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein, matrix-metalloproteinase-8 and carotid atherosclerosis in spinal cord injured subjects.

OBJECTIVE Previous reports have indicated that subjects with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) exhibit increased cardiovascular risk compared to able-bodied individuals. This study investigated the relationship between plasmatic oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) levels and vascular remodeling in SCI subjects and the role of physical activity in this regard. METHODS We studied 42 men with chronic (≥2 years) SCI [18 sedentary (S-SCI) and 24 physically active (PA-SCI)] and 16 able-bodied men by clinical, anthropometric, laboratory, and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) analysis. All enrolled subjects were normotensive, non-diabetics, non-smokers and normolipemic. Plasmatic OxLDL, MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Carotid IMT, IMT/diameter ratio and OxLDL levels of PA-SCI and able-bodied subjects were statistically similar. Conversely, S-SCI subjects exhibited higher IMT, IMT/diameter ratio and OxLDL levels compared to PA-SCI (p < 0.01, p < 0.001 and p = 0.01, respectively) and able-bodied (p < 0.001 for all) individuals. Results of bivariate correlation analysis including all injured subjects showed that carotid IMT and IMT/diameter ratio only correlated with OxLDL, MMP-8 and MMP-8/TIMP-1 ratio. Further stepwise regression analysis adjusted for the presence or not of physical activity and age showed that OxLDL was associated with carotid IMT and IMT/diameter ratio, while MMP-8 was associated with IMT/diameter ratio in SCI individuals. CONCLUSIONS Plasmatic OxLDL and MMP-8 levels are associated with carotid atherosclerosis and there is an interaction among physical inactivity, atherosclerosis and OxLDL in SCI individuals.

Validação da bateria "Beck" de testes de habilidades para atletas brasileiros de "rugby" em cadeira de rodas

The Wheelchair Rugby is a sport practiced by subjects with tetraplegia or tetra-equivalence, since 2005 in Brazil, where there are approximately 10 teams in business. The motricity evaluation is a means of training control that allows achieve real progress in planning. The BECK battery of skills tests (ball handling, precision passing, blocking, speed and long distance passing) to wheelchair rugby athletes was developed in the U.S.A. by Yilla & Sherrill (1998).The aim of this study was to examine the criteria of scientific authenticity of the battery to the Brazilian athletes population. The results of two assessments with the battery (test and retest) with 11 athletes (mean age 27.59 ± 5.37 years, length of lesion 8.19 ± 3.83 years), were recorded by three assessors , which allowed the analysis of objectivity, reliability and internal consistency. We used ANOVA for analysis of objectivity and linear correlation and t test for analysis of reliability and consistency. No differences were found between results from different raters (p values ranging from 0.45 to 1.00) and the values of intraclass correlation coefficient found (range r 0.78 to 0.99 p < 0.00) indicate that the battery is consistent and reliable. The results of this study indicate that the criteria of scientific authenticity to the battery are satisfied and battery can be considered a valid tool for motricity evaluation of wheelchair rugby brazilian players.

Impact of Wheelchair Rugby on Body Composition of Subjects With Tetraplegia: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the longitudinal effects of wheelchair rugby (WR) training on body composition of subjects with tetraplegia. DESIGN Subjects were evaluated at baseline and after WR training. SETTING Faculty of physical education settings. PARTICIPANTS Individuals with tetraplegia (N=13; age, 26.6±6.0y). INTERVENTIONS Four sessions per week of WR training composed by aerobic and anaerobic activities and technical and tactical aspects of WR. The average time of intervention was 8.1±2.5 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Body composition assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS After training, fat mass was significantly reduced in the whole body (15,191±4603 vs 13,212±3318 g, P=.016), trunk (7058±2639 vs 5693±1498 g, P=.012), and legs (2847±817 vs 2534±742 g, P=.003). Conversely, increased bone mineral content (183±35 vs 195±32 g, P=.01) and fat-free mass (2991±549 vs 3332±602 g, P=.016) in the arms and reduced bone mineral content in the trunk (553±82 vs 521±86 g, P=.034) were observed after training. Furthermore, no significant correlation between the duration of training and changes in body composition was detected. CONCLUSIONS Regular WR training increased lean mass and bone mineral content in the arms and decreased total body fat mass. Conversely, WR training was associated with decreased bone mineral content in the trunk. These results suggest that regular WR training improves body composition in subjects with tetraplegia.

Matrix metalloproteinases and left ventricular function and structure in spinal cord injured subjects.

Subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI) exhibit impaired left ventricular (LV) diastolic function, which has been reported to be attenuated by regular physical activity. This study investigated the relationship between circulating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) and echocardiographic parameters in SCI subjects and the role of physical activity in this regard. Forty-two men with SCI [19 sedentary (S-SCI) and 23 physically-active (PA-SCI)] were evaluated by clinical, anthropometric, laboratory, and echocardiographic analysis. Plasmatic pro-MMP-2, MMP-2, MMP-8, pro-MMP-9, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and zymography. PA-SCI subjects presented lower pro-MMP-2 and pro-MMP-2/TIMP-2 levels and improved markers of LV diastolic function (lower E/Em and higher Em and E/A values) than S-SCI ones. Bivariate analysis showed that pro-MMP-2 correlated inversely with Em and directly with E/Em, while MMP-9 correlated directly with LV mass index and LV end-diastolic diameter in the whole sample. Following multiple regression analysis, pro-MMP-2, but not physical activity, remained associated with Em, while MMP-9 was associated with LV mass index in the whole sample. These findings suggest differing roles for MMPs in LV structure and function regulation and an interaction among pro-MMP-2, diastolic function and physical activity in SCI subjects.

Impact of Adapted Sports Activities on the Progression of Carotid Atherosclerosis in Subjects With Spinal Cord Injury

OBJECTIVE To determine whether regular performance of adapted sports is associated with long-term changes in carotid atherosclerosis in subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN Prospective observational study. SETTING Academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS Men with chronic (>1y) SCI and no preserved motor function below the injury level were evaluated in 2007 and 2012 (N=17). Nine subjects did not perform physical activity between the studied time points (control group), whereas 8 subjects entered competitive upper-body sports programs (rugby: n=5, basketball: n=1, jiu-jitsu: n=1, and tennis: n=1) after baseline and were regularly training at the time of the second evaluation (sports group). INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Clinical, laboratory, hemodynamic, and carotid ultrasonography analysis. RESULTS The studied groups showed no differences in all studied variables at baseline. After 5 years of follow-up, the control group showed increases in heart rate (87.0±3.1 vs 74.7±3.8 beats per minute; P=.004), but the participants had no significant changes in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) (.65±.05 vs .67±.03mm; P=.73) or IMT/diameter (.118±.007 vs .136±.013; P=.24). In contrast, the sports group showed long-term decreases in carotid IMT (.56±.05 vs .74±.05mm; P=.001) and IMT/diameter (.097±.006 vs .141±.009; P<.001), but the participants did not show any variation in the other studied variables at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Regular upper-body sports activities are associated with long-term reductions in carotid atherosclerosis in subjects with SCI and might be a potential prevention strategy aiming to reduce cardiovascular risk in this population.

Avaliação da potência aeróbia de praticantes de Rugby em Cadeira de Rodas através de um teste de quadra

The present study aimed to estimate aerobic power in wheelchair athletes with SCI. Other objetive was VO2max levels correlate with the functional classification of athletes and analyze the behavior of the FC before and after testing. The sample consisted of 10 male athletes with SCI and mean age was 29.6 ± 6.5 years. The athletes were tested for race 12 minutes and the heart rate monitor was used. The average VO2max was 18.3±8.1 ml (kg.min)-1, while the mean HRmax was 114.6±25.3bpm. The VO2max values obtained in the study are classified as medium for people with quadriplegia. It was observed that there is a moderate correlation (r = 0.77) between the functional classification and VO2max among athletes practicing WR and finally, was observed low values of HR will face a submaximal test, which may be related to decreased activity symphatetic after SCI.

Validity of the MyJump2TM app for measuring different jumps in professional CP Football Players (Preprint)

Background Vertical jumps can be used to assess neuromuscular status in sports performance. This is particularly important in Cerebral Palsy Football (CP Football) because players are exposed to high injury risk, but it may be complicated because the gold standard for assessing jump performance is scarce in field evaluation. Thus, field techniques, such as mobile apps, have been proposed as an alternative method for solving this problem. Objective This study aims to evaluate the reliability of the measures of the MyJump2 app to assess vertical jump performance in professional CP Football. Methods We assessed 40 male CP Football athletes (age 28.1 [SD 1.4] years, weight 72.5 [SD 6.2] kg, and height 176 [SD 4.2] cm) through the countermovement jump (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ) using a contact mat. At the same time, we assessed the athletes using the MyJump2 app. Results There were no significant differences between the instruments in SJ height (P=.12) and flight time (P=.15). Additionally, there were no significant differences between the instruments for CMJ in jump height (P=.16) and flight time (P=.13). In addition, it was observed that there were significant and strong intraclass correlations in all SJ variables varying from 0.86 to 0.89 (both P<.001), which was classified as “almost perfect.” Similar results were observed in all variables from the CMJ, varying from 0.92 to 0.96 (both P ≤.001). Conclusions We conclude that the MyJump2 app presents high validity and reliability for measuring jump height and flight time of the SJ and CMJ in CP Football athletes.