ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Injury Prevention and Control
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1678313
Effects of High-Intensity Resistance Training on Extended Body Composition and Functional Fitness after Spinal Cord Injury with Motor Complete Paraplegia: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study
Provisionally accepted
Seckjin Kim1Junmin Lee1Wonjung Kim2Seungmo Jin3Younghyeon Bae1
Hyunjong Lee1
Jung Hwan Kim4Kyungjun An5Nohhwan Park6
Seyoung Shin2*- 1National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- 2Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- 3National Athletes with Disabilities, Icheon, Republic of Korea
- 4Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- 5Suseong University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- 6Korea National Sport University, Songpa-gu, Republic of Korea
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Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effects of high-intensity resistance training (HIRT) versus moderate-intensity resistance training (MIRT) on bone mineral density (BMD), body composition, and functional fitness in individuals with motor-complete paraplegia after spinal cord injury (SCI), and to propose a tailored exercise intervention for this population. Methods: Participants with motor complete paraplegia were randomized into HIRT (n = 8) or MIRT (n = 8) groups. Both groups completed an 8-week elastic resistance training program. The measured outcomes included extended body composition (BMD, T-scores, lean mass, and fat mass) and functional fitness components (cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility). Results: No significant changes in BMD were observed in either group (p > .05). The HIRT group demonstrated significant improvements in lean mass (p < .001), chest press strength (p = .024), muscular endurance (p = .008), and VO₂peak (p = .001), while the MIRT group showed no significant changes. Flexibility and fat mass did not significantly differ in either group (p > .05). Conclusion: HIRT was more effective than MIRT in improving lean mass and functional fitness in individuals with motor-complete SCI. Although BMD did not change over the 8-week period, its assessment remains clinically relevant, and future studies should investigate longer-duration or higher-intensity protocols to promote skeletal adaptations.
Keywords: Neurological impairment, Disability, Resistance exercise, Health Promotion, Rehabilitation training
Received: 02 Aug 2025; Accepted: 09 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Kim, Lee, Kim, Jin, Bae, Lee, Kim, An, Park and Shin. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Seyoung Shin, hnjm155@naver.com
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