A short-term arm-crank exercise program improved testosterone deficiency in
adults with chronic spinal cord injury.
Author(s): Rosety-Rodriguez M(1), Rosety I(2), Fornieles G(1), Rosety JM(3), Elosegui S(4),
Rosety MA(5), Ordonez FJ(5).
Affiliation(s): Author information:
(1)Medicine Department, School of Medicine, University of Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain.
(2)Department of Human Anatomy, University of Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain. (3)Division of
Urology, University Hospital Puerta del Mar, Cadiz, Spain. (4)Division of
Internal Medicine, Juan Ramon Jimenez General Hospital, Huelva, Spain. (5)School
of Sports Sciences, University of Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain.
Publication date & source: 2014, Int Braz J Urol. , 40(3):367-72
PURPOSE: To determine the influence of arm-crank exercise in reproductive hormone
levels in adults with chronic SCI. Further objectives were to assess the
influence of arm-crank exercise on muscle strength and body composition.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen male adults with complete SCI at or below the
5th thoracic level (T5) volunteered for this study. Participants were randomly
allocated to the intervention (n = 9) or control group (n = 8) using a concealed
method. The participants in the intervention group performed a 12-week arm-crank
exercise program, 3 sessions/week, consisting of warming-up (10-15 min) followed
by a main part in arm-crank (20-30 min [increasing 2 min and 30 seconds each
three weeks]) at a moderate work intensity of 50-65% of heart rate reserve (HRR)
(starting at 50% and increasing 5% each three weeks) and by a cooling-down period
(5-10 min). Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH),
testosterone and estradiol were determined by ELISA. Muscle strength (handgrip)
and body composition (waist circumference [WC]) were assessed.
RESULTS: After the completion of the training program, testosterone level was
significantly increased (p = 0.0166;d = 1.14). Furthermore, maximal handgrip and
WC were significantly improved. Lastly, a significant inverse correlation was
found between WC and testosterone (r =- 0.35; p = 0.0377).
CONCLUSION: The arm-crank exercise improved reproductive hormone profile by
increasing testosterone levels in adults with chronic SCI. A secondary finding
was that it also significantly improved muscle strength and body composition in
this group.
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