INTRODUCTION: Direct and indirect effects of spinal cord injury lead to important cardiovascular (CV) complications that are further increased by years of injury and the process of "accelerated aging." The present review examines the current evidence in the literature for the potential cardioprotective effect of exercise training in spinal cord injury. REVIEW METHODS: PubMed and Web of Science databases were screened for original studies investigating the effect of exercise-based interventions on aerobic capacity, cardiac structure/function, autonomic function, CV function, and/or cardiometabolic markers. We compared the effects in individuals < 40 yr with time since injury < 10 yr with those in older individuals (>= 40 yr) with longer time since injury (>= 10 yr), reasoning that the two can be considered individuals with low versus high CV risk factors. SUMMARY: Studies showed similar exercise effects in both groups (n = 31 in low CV risk factors versus n = 15 in high CV risk factors). The evidence does not support any effect of exercise training on autonomic function but does support an increased peripheral blood flow, improved left ventricular mass, higher peak cardiac output, greater lean body mass, better antioxidant capacity, and improved endothelial function. In addition, some evidence suggests that it can result in lower blood lipids, systemic inflammation (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and c-reactive protein), and arterial stiffness. Training intensity, volume, and frequency were key factors determining CV gains. Future studies with larger sample sizes, well-matched groups of subjects, and randomized controlled designs will be needed to determine whether high-intensity hybrid forms of training result in greater CV gains.
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