Asymmetric bone adaptations to soleus mechanical loading after spinal cord injury

S Dudley-Javoroski; R K Shields

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Journal article

Asymmetric bone adaptations to soleus mechanical loading after spinal cord injury

S Dudley-Javoroski and R K Shields

Journal of musculoskeletal & neuronal interactions, Vol.8(3), pp.227-238

07/2008

PMCID: PMC2744484

PMID: 18799855

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Abstract

The purpose of this report is to examine longitudinal bone mineral density (BMD) changes in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) who began unilateral soleus electrical stimulation early after injury. Twelve men with SCI and seven without SCI underwent peripheral quantitative computed tomography assessment of distal tibia BMD. After 4.5 to 6 years of training, average trained limb BMD was 27.5% higher than untrained limb BMD. The training effect was more pronounced in the central core of the tibia cross-section (40.5% between-limb difference). No between-limb difference emerged in the anterior half of the tibia (19.2 mg/cm(3) difference, p>0.05). A robust between-limb difference emerged in the posterior half of the tibia (76.1 mg/cm(3) difference, p=0.0439). The posterior tibia BMD of one subject remained within the range of non-SCI values for 3.8 years post-SCI. The results support that the constrained orientation of soleus mechanical loads, administered over several years, elicited bone-sparing effects in the posterior tibia. This study provides a demonstration of the bone-protective potential of a carefully controlled dose of mechanical load. The specific orientation of applied mechanical loads may strongly influence the manifestation of BMD adaptations in humans with SCI.

Adaptation, Physiological

Acute Disease

Reproducibility of Results

Bone Density

Humans

Middle Aged

Tibia - diagnostic imaging

Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods

Male

Electric Stimulation Therapy

Young Adult

Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology

Adult

Weight-Bearing

Spinal Cord Injuries - physiopathology

Tibia - metabolism

Spinal Cord Injuries - therapy

Chronic Disease

Longitudinal Studies

Tibia - physiopathology

Cohort Studies

Details

Title: Subtitle: Asymmetric bone adaptations to soleus mechanical loading after spinal cord injury
Creators: S Dudley-Javoroski - Graduate Program in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1190, USA
R K Shields
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of musculoskeletal & neuronal interactions, Vol.8(3), pp.227-238
Publisher: Greece
PMID: 18799855
PMCID: PMC2744484
ISSN: 1108-7161
Grant note: R01 NR010285 / NINR NIH HHS R01-NR 010285-05 / NINR NIH HHS R01 NR010285-05 / NINR NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 07/2008
Academic Unit: Orthopedics and Rehabilitation; Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
Record Identifier: 9984047715102771

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