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Bone Mineral Status in Paraplegic Patients Who Do or Do Not Perform Standing
Research
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Chloe at Neuro3

Bone health
Bone Mineral Status in Paraplegic Patients Who Do or Do Not Perform Standing
Research
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By

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia
Chloe at Neuro3

in Osteoporosis International volume 4, pages 138–143 (1994)

The study presents the different statuses of bone mineral density between paraplegic patients who do or do not perform standing. With the rigorous data, it’s not difficult to take a positive stance towards performing standing.

Bone mineral density was assessed by dual-photon X-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar spine (L3, L4), the proximal femur and the femoral shaft, and by single-photon absorptiometry at the forearm in 53 patients with complete traumatic paraplegia of at least 1 year’s duration and in age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The patients did or did not regularly perform passive weightbearing standing with the aid of a standing device. Compared with the controls, the BMD of paraplegic patients preserved in the lumbar spine and markedly decreased in the proximal femur (33%) and the femoral shaft (25%). 

When considering all patients performing standing, they had a better-preserved BMD at the femoral shaft (p = 0.009), but not at the proximal femur, than patients not performing standing. BMD at the lumbar spine (L3, L4) was marginally higher in the standing group (significant only for L3; p = 0.040). A subgroup of patients performing standing with use of long leg braces had a significantly higher BMD at the proximal femur than patients using a standing frame or a standing wheelchair. The present results suggest that passive mechanical loading can have a beneficial effect on the preservation of bone mass in osteoporosis found in paraplegics.

Bone Mineral Status in Paraplegic Patients Who Do or Do Not Perform Standing

Please visit the National Library of Medicine for more information. We provide NeuroMoves exercise service, a specialised exercise therapy to people living with a neurological condition or physical disability.

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