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

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Physical fitness; Rehabilitation; Spinal cord injuries.