Inflammation-mediating cytokine response to acute handcyclingexercise with/without functional electrical stimulation-evokedlower-limb cycling

摘要

This feasibility study compared the plasma inflammationmediatingcytokine response to an acute bout of handcycling(HC) with and without the addition of functionalelectrical stimulation (FES)evoked lowerlimb cycling. Ontwo separate occasions, five recreationally active, communitybasedparticipants with motor complete paraplegia (thoracic 5–7) performed 30 min HC and hybrid exercise (HYB) at a fixedpower output. Venous blood samples were collected at rest,immediately postexercise, 1 h postexercise (post+1) and 2 hpostexercise (post+2). Plasma interleukin (IL)6, IL10, IL1receptor antagonist (IL1ra), adrenaline, and cortisol concentrationswere determined via enzymelinked immunoassay.Plasma IL6 concentrations were significantly (p 0.05) increase in IL6 wasobserved at post+1 in HC, with concentrations significantlyhigher in HYB at post+2 (p < 0.02). Plasma IL1ra was unaffectedin both trials. Although not reaching statistical significance(p = 0.15), a ~1fold increase in IL10 concentration wasseen in HYB at post+2. In contrast, increases in adrenaline (p <0.04) and cortisol (p = 0.08) were observed immediatelypostexercise in HC and HYB. Initial findings suggest paralyzedskeletal muscle releases IL6 in response to FESevokedcontractions. HYB may provide a greater antiinflammatorypotential in individuals with a thoracic spinal cord injury comparedwith HC alone.