16 / 30
allied
academies
Journal of Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine
Volume 1, Issue 1
Euro Physiotherapy 2017
Notes:
Page 45
December 07-08, 2017 Rome, Italy
4
th
Euro-Global Physiotherapy Congress 2017
Novel strategies for battling obesity and
reducing cardiometabolic disease risk in
those with paralysis
David R Dolbow
University of Southern Mississippi, USA
T
he Obesity rate for individuals with SCI has been
reported to be as high as 66% with a 2-3 fold
increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases including
heart disease, stroke and diabetes mellitus. Physical
activity has been shown to be important in battling obesity
and cardiometabolic disease risk, however in the SCI
population, typically only the upper extremities retain
voluntary muscle activity and 60-90% report shoulder pain.
Thus, functional electrical stimulation lower extremities
cycling (FES-LEC) has become a viable alternative for
increasing physical activity levels while sparing the often
over-used upper extremities. Constant cadence (FES-
LEC) has been shown to provide modest improvements
in increased muscle mass and decreased fat mass,
especially in the lower extremities. Like-wise there is
evidence of increased blood flow and enhanced arterial
health in the paralyzed lower extremities. However, we
have developed a resistance-guided high intensity interval
FES (RG-HIIT-FES) cycling protocol that may provide
equal or greater benefits with less time commitment.
Our proof-of-principle study in 3 obese persons with SCI
confirmed that RG-HIIT-FES cycling 3 times per week for
8 weeks without dietary monitoring can increase legs lean
mass (5-9%), increase cardiovascular health markers
(58% on average) and decrease HbA1c blood levels
(2-4%). Information will also be provided on preliminary
results from a current follow-up study combining RG-
HIIT-FES cycling and nutritional counseling on obese
individuals with spinal cord injury.
Biography
David R Dolbow is currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology
at the University of Southern Mississippi. He received his bachelor and master
degrees in human movement with specialization in kinesiotherapy/exercise
science from Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts. He completed his
PhD in Exercise Physiology/Exercise Science at Middle Tennessee State
University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee and his doctorate in Physical Therapy
at Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee. He has over 30 years of clinical
physical rehabilitation experience and has been a Physical Therapist Research
Specialist for the past eight years. He has over 50 peer reviewed publications
in scientific journals and has been a featured speaker at numerous national
and international scientific meetings. His research interests include improving
the quality of life in those with spinal cord injuries and other paralytic conditions
through improving functional mobility and decreasing secondary morbidities
such as obesity and cardiometabolic disease. Primary investigative modes of
treatment include activities-based restorative therapies with lower extremities
functional electrical stimulation cycling, arm ergometry and intermittent
pneumatic compression being the primary focus currently. He is currently
completing a funded study on electrically induced cycling and nutritional
counseling for counteracting obesity after SCI.
david.dolbow@usm.eduDavid R Dolbow, J Phys Ther Sports Med 2017