Low-Grade Inflammation and Spinal Cord Injury: Exercise as Therapy?

• Main Authors: Eduardo da Silva Alves (Author), Valdir de Aquino Lemos (Author), Francieli Ruiz da Silva (Author), Fabio Santos Lira (Author), Ronaldo Vagner Thomathieli dos Santos (Author), João Paulo Pereira Rosa (Author), Erico Caperuto (Author), Sergio Tufik (Author), Marco Tulio de Mello (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Hindawi Limited, 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

An increase in the prevalence of obesity in people with spinal cord injury can contribute to low-grade chronic inflammation and increase the risk of infection in this population. A decrease in sympathetic activity contributes to immunosuppression due to the lower activation of immune cells in the blood. The effects of physical exercise on inflammatory parameters in individuals with spinal cord injury have not been well described. We conducted a review of the literature published from 1974 to 2012. This review explored the relationships between low-grade inflammation, spinal cord injury, and exercise to discuss a novel mechanism that might explain the beneficial effects of exercise involving an increase in catecholamines and cytokines in people with spinal cord injury.

Item Description

0962-9351
1466-1861
10.1155/2013/971841