The benefits of physical activity on improving body composition have been well documented in the general population. However, there is a paucity of research on the effects of physical activity on body composition in clinical populations. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between physical activity and body composition in people with spinal cord injury (SCI).
Method
This was a cross-sectional study of 47 individuals with SCI who were classified based on injury level (paraplegic or quadriplegic) and physical activity level (physically active or inactive) (2 x 2 between-groups design). Percent body fat (%BF) was estimated with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and was compared between the groups using a 2 x 2 analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with body mass index (BMI) as a covariate.
Analysis/Results
The 2 x 2 ANCOVA showed no significant interaction effect between injury level and physical activity level, F(1, 42) = .39, p = .5352. After adjusting for BMI, the physically active SCI individuals (adjusted M = 22.01%, SE = .96%) had significantly lower %BF than did the physically inactive ones (adjusted M = 25.46%, SE = 1.00%), F(1, 42) = 6.28, p = .0162, partial η2 = .13. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in %BF between the paraplegic (adjusted M = 23.94%, SE = .90%) and quadriplegic (adjusted M = 23.53%, SE = 1.16%) individuals, F(1, 42) = .07, p = .7904.
Conclusions
The present study indicates that engaging in regular physical activity is associated with lower %BF in people with SCI regardless of the level of injury. Therefore, physical activity seems to play a role in maintaining optimal body composition in people with SCI. As educators, we need to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity for improved quality of life in clinical populations.
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