Objectives: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) typically undergo changes in their body composition. The purpose of this study is to explore the results of measurements from body composition. Methods: Volunteers with spinal cord injury over 6 months were recruited as our SCI subjects with matched able-bodied recruiter served as controls. Body composition were measured and determined using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) (Physion XP). Results: The SCI subject group exhibited significantly higher body fat (%) than that of control group (p<0.05) and significantly lower averaged total lean body (%) of the SCI group as compared to that of the controls was revealed (p<0.01). Although there is no significantly difference in the averaged lean mass (%) of the upper extremities (3.9±0.77% vs 3.9±0.73%), significantly lower averaged lean mass (%) of the lower extremities in the SCI group as compared to that in the controls was revealed (12.50±1.6% vs 15.91±1.58%, p<0.01). Conclusion: The results indicate that the lean body mass (%) dramatically decreased and the fat mass (%) increased after spinal cord injury. The significantly different lean mass (%) of the extremities in two groups may be correlation to the level of spinal cord injury and the activity of the extremities.
Objectives: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) typically undergo changes in their body composition. The purpose of this study is to explore the results of measurements from body composition. Methods: Volunteers with spinal cord injury over 6 months were recruited as our SCI subjects with matched able-bodied recruiter served as controls. Body composition were measured and determined using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) (Physion XP). Results: The SCI subject group exhibited significantly higher body fat (%) than that of control group (p<0.05) and significantly lower averaged total lean body (%) of the SCI group as compared to that of the controls was revealed (p<0.01). Although there is no significantly difference in the averaged lean mass (%) of the upper extremities (3.9±0.77% vs 3.9±0.73%), significantly lower averaged lean mass (%) of the lower extremities in the SCI group as compared to that in the controls was revealed (12.50±1.6% vs 15.91±1.58%, p<0.01). Conclusion: The results indicate that the lean body mass (%) dramatically decreased and the fat mass (%) increased after spinal cord injury. The significantly different lean mass (%) of the extremities in two groups may be correlation to the level of spinal cord injury and the activity of the extremities.