Effects of Hybrid Exercise Program on Subclinical Vascular Markers in Young Patients with Permanent Lower-Limb Disability

Patients with permanent lower limb disability rely on wheel chair for transportation and daily activities. These patients suffer from a lack of physical activity and experience markedly elevated risks of cardiometabolic diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effects of hybrid upper body exercise program on physical fitness and vascular functions in young patients with permanent lower limb disability. Twenty nine males and females with permanent lower limb disability aged 26.0±1.4 years were randomly assigned into the sedentary time control (CON; n=15) and the exercise training (ET; n=14) groups. The supervised exercise training program consisted of a variety of upper limb exercises, including stretching exercises, moderate intensity aerobic exercise incorporating elements of Muay Thai and resistance exercise with rubber strings for 40 min/day, 3 days/wk, for 12 weeks. Before and after the exercise interventions, physical fitness and blood biochemistry were assessed in all participants. A variety of vascular functions including arterial wall thickness, carotid intima‐media thickness (IMT), vascular reactivity, flow‐mediated dilatation (FMD), and brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), an index of arterial stiffness, were measured noninvasively. At baseline, two groups were not different in anthropometric and vascular functional measures. After 12 wks, there were no significant changes in body fat, heart rate at rest, and systolic blood pressure in both groups. Diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly (p<0.05) only in the ET group. Forearm muscle strength increased significantly (p<0.05) in both CON and ET groups. The ET group experienced greater increases in flexibility and maximal oxygen consumption than the CON group (all p<0.05). IMT and baPWV did not change significantly in both groups. FMD increased significantly (p<0.05) only in the ET group. These results indicate that aerobic exercise training combined with resistance exercise training program had beneficial effects in improving flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, and macrovascular functions in patients with permanent lower limb disability. Support or Funding Information Supported by Physical Activities Research Center, Thai Health Promotion Foundation.