Abstract
Study design
Experimental study.
Objective
Individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) may present with impaired sympathetic control over thermoregulatory responses to environmental and exercise stressors, which can impact regional core temperature (Tcore) measurement. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether regional differences in Tcore responses exist during exercise in individuals with SCI.
Setting
Rehabilitation centre in Wakayama, Japan.
Methods
We recruited 12 men with motor-complete SCI (7 tetraplegia, 5 paraplegia) and 5 able-bodied controls to complete a 30-min bout of arm-cycling exercise at 50% V̇O2 peak reserve. Tcore was estimated using telemetric pills (intestinal temperature; Tint) and esophageal probes (Teso). Heat storage was calculated from baseline to 15 and 30 min of exercise.
Results
At 15 min of exercise, elevations in Teso (Δ0.39 ± 0.22 °C; P < 0.05), but not Tint (Δ0.04 ± 0.18 °C; P = 0.09), were observed in able-bodied men. At 30 min of exercise, men with paraplegia and able-bodied men both exhibited increases in Teso (paraplegia: Δ0.56 ± 0.30 °C, P < 0.05; able-bodied men: Δ0.60 ± 0.31 °C, P < 0.05) and Tint (paraplegia: Δ0.38 ± 0.33 °C, P < 0.05; able-bodied men: Δ0.30 ± 0.30 °C, P < 0.05). Teso began rising 7.2 min earlier than Tint (pooled, P < 0.01). Heat storage estimated by Teso was greater than heat storage estimated by Tint at 15 min (P = 0.02) and 30 min (P = 0.03) in men with paraplegia. No elevations in Teso, Tint, or heat storage were observed in men with tetraplegia.
Conclusions
While not interchangeable, both Teso and Tint are sensitive to elevations in Tcore during arm-cycling exercise in men with paraplegia, although Teso may have superior sensitivity to capture temperature information earlier during exercise.
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Data availability
The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions to this study by Kyungsu Jung as well as the medical doctors and physiotherapists of Wakayama Medical University.
Funding
This study was supported by funding from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science through a Mitacs partnership, as well as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (DG No. 238819-13 to MJM). Equipment was provided through the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport (Loughborough University).
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JSA was responsible for designing the protocol, conducting the experiments, extracting and analyzing the data, interpreting the results, as well as drafting the final manuscript. YK was responsible for designing the protocol, conducting the experiments, extracting the data, interpreting the results, as well as providing feedback on the final manuscript. VLG-T was responsible for designing the protocol, interpreting the study findings, as well as providing feedback on the final manuscript. CAL was responsible for designing the protocol, interpreting the study findings, as well as providing feedback on the final manuscript. MJM was responsible for designing the protocol, interpreting the study findings, as well as drafting the final manuscript. YM was responsible for conducting the experiments, extracting the data, as well as providing feedback on the final manuscript. FT was responsible for designing the protocol, interpreting the study findings, as well as providing feedback on the final manuscript.
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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethics approval
All methods and procedures were approved by the Medical Ethical Committee of Wakayama Medical University (#2076), adhering to the Declaration of Helsinki except for registration in a database. All testing was completed in the Wakayama Medical University Genki Development Institute (Wakayama, Japan). All participants gave verbal and written consent prior to participation in this study. We certify that all applicable institutional and governmental regulations concerning the ethical use of human volunteers were followed during the course of the research.
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Au, J.S., Kamijo, Yi., Goosey-Tolfrey, V.L. et al. Comparison between esophageal and intestinal temperature responses to upper-limb exercise in individuals with spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 57, 586–593 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-019-0257-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-019-0257-5
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