Functional profile of active tetraplegics and paraplegics - males and females - in dependence on the lesion level
Abstract
Physical activities and sports may alter positively quality of life; this statement has specific dimensions in physically disabled populations. In wheelchair-dependent individuals with medulla lesion the motor activities are roughly limited, on the other side, however, physical activities may contribute to the maintenance and development of the function of organism.
Assessment of body composition, pulmonary function; blood pressure and indices of upper body aerobic capacity in recreationally sporting tetraplegics and paraplegics (altogether 56 males and 18 females) confirmed the dependance of the level of functional indices on the medullar lesion level. Iin majority of functional indices the tetraplegcis attained lower values than praplegics with higher of lower lesion level.
The results of the cross cectional study had confimed the assumption of the significant depencence of functional capacity on the height of the lesion level. In addition, the results may serve as comparative values for evaluatuion of performance capacity in men and women with the different height of medullar lesion level.