Effect of implementing scientific exercise guidelines in chronic spinal cord injury on the percentage of muscle and fat mass in the body

Background and purpose Physical activity reduction in chronic Spinal Cord Injury patients may lead to sedentary lifestyle, resulting in loss of muscle mass and higher total body fat percentage. Over the past decades, no guidelines were in agreement among scientists which specifically tailored to people with Spinal Cord Injury. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of Scientific Exercise Guidelines (Indonesian version) for Chronic Spinal Cord Injury on muscle mass and total body fat percentage in American Spinal Cord Injury Association Impairment Scale C/D patients in Indonesia Material and methods Fourteen chronic Spinal Cord Injury Neurologic Level of Injury T1 American Spinal Cord Injury Association Impairment Scale C/D patients were randomized into treatment and control group. Subject in treatment group received exercise interventions based on the Scientific Exercise Guidelines (Indonesian version) for 12 weeks. The guidelines included 20-minute cardiovascular fitness exercises at moderate intensity twice a week, followed by 3 sets of shoulder muscle strengthening exercises twice a week. Subjects in the control group received no specific intervention and continued their daily activities. They are allowed to do exercises other than exercise based on the Scientific Exercise Guidelines (Indonesian Version). Muscle mass and total body fat percentage were measured using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis performed before and after intervention. Results There were significant changes in muscle mass improvements (p = 0.001) and body fat percentage reduction (p = 0.002) after 12 weeks implementation of the Scientific Exercise Guidelines (Indonesian version). Conclusions Exercise based on the Scientific Exercise Guidelines (Indonesian version) for 12 weeks can increase muscle mass and reduce body fat percentage in chronic Spinal Cord Injury Patients American Spinal Cord Injury Association Impairment Scale C/D Neurologic Level of Injury T1 and below.