Catecholamine response to exercise in individuals with different levels of paraplegia

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the level of injury on the serum level of norepinephrine (Nor) and epinephrine (Epi) at rest and after maximal exercise in individuals with paraplegia. Twenty-six male spinal cord-injured subjects with complete paraplegia for at least 9 months were divided into two groups of 13 subjects each according to the level of injury, i.e., T1-T6 and T7-T12. Serum Nor and Epi concentrations were measured by HPLC-ECD, at rest (PRE) and immediately after a maximal ergospirometric test (POST). Statistical analysis was performed using parametric and non-parametric tests. Maximal heart rate, peak oxygen uptake, and PRE and POST Nor were lower in the T1-T6 than in the T7-T12 group (166 Ý 28 vs 188 Ý 10 bpm; 18.0 Ý 6.0 vs 25.8 Ý 4.1 ml kg-1 min-1; 0.54 Ý 0.26 vs 0.99 Ý 0.47 nM; 1.48 Ý 1.65 vs 3.07 Ý 1.44 nM). Both groups presented a significant increase in Nor level after exercise, while only the T7-T12 group showed a significant increase in Epi after exercise (T1-T6: 0.98 Ý 0.72 vs 1.11 Ý 1.19 nM; T7-T12: 1.24 Ý 1.02 vs 1.89 Ý 1.57 nM). These data show that individuals with paraplegia above T6 have an attentuated catecholamine release at rest and response to exercise as compared to subjects with injuries below T6, which might prevent a better exercise performance in the former group

Coração de atleta em desportistas deficientes de elite / Athlete's heart elite disable athletes

OBJETIVO - Verificar a prevalência de sinais de "coração de atleta" em desportistas deficientes para-olímpicos. MÉTODOS - Avaliação clínica, eletrocardiográfica, ecocardiográfica, vetocardiográfica, ergométrica em 75 atletas, 27ñ6,7 anos, 56 homens, várias modalidades; com deficiência física (47), visual (12) e paralisia cerebral (16). RESULTADOS - Sinais de coração de atleta ocorreram em 33 'por cento' dos exames clínicos (sopros e estalidos), em 55 'por cento' dos eletrocardiogramas (bradicardia, bloqueio incompleto de ramo direito, sobrecargas, alteraçöes de onda T), em 15 'por cento' dos vetocardiogramas (sobrecargas), em 5 'por cento' dos ecocardiogramas (dimensöes cavitárias acima do habitual). Os sinais ocorreram em 51 'por cento' dos atletas, sendo que em 46 'por cento' dos casos havia 2 ou mais sinais e, em 12 'por cento', 4 ou mais sinais. O TE foi normal em 77 'por cento' dos atletas; não houve ST isquêmico. Em 23 'por cento' dos casos houve bloqueio divisional direito. CONCLUSÄO - Foram encontrados dois ou mais sinais de coração de atleta em 46 'por cento' dos atletas deficientes para-olímpicos.