Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan, GIH

OBJECTIVES: To assess pain relieving effects of an intensive exercise programme on a seated double-poling ergometer in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).

SETTING: Stockholm, Sweden.

METHODS: A total of 13 wheelchair-dependent individuals with a thoracic or lumbar SCI were recruited to a 10-week training period (three times weekly) assessing the effects of regular training on upper-body strength, aerobic and mechanical power, and crossover effects on functional performance, as well as cardiovascular risk factors. Eight of the participants reported pain and were included in this exploratory pain protocol and assessed using the International SCI Basic Pain Data set, the Wheelchair Users' Shoulder Pain Index and International SCI Quality of Life Basic Data set.

RESULTS: For those with neuropathic pain, median pain intensity ratings decreased from 5 on a 0-10 numerical rating scale at base-line to 3 at the end of study, and four of seven participants reported an improvement on the Patient Global Impression of Change scale. For those with musculoskeletal pain (n = 5), median pain intensity ratings improved from 4 at baseline to 0 at the end of study. All but one rated no musculoskeletal pain at all at the end of study and number of days with pain per week decreased from 5.5 to 0.7. None of the participants developed pain, because of overuse during the training period and few reported unwanted side effects.

CONCLUSION: Considering its promising effects and safety, an intensive exercise programme can be tried for treating musculoskeletal pain and also neuropathic pain following SCI.