At a glance - Reproducibility of noninvasive cardiac output during arm exercise in spinal cord injury

JRRD at a Glance

Reproducibility of noninvasive cardiac outputduring arm exercise in spinal cord injury

Jonathan Myers, PhD, et al.

Cardiac output is an important measurement that provides information on cardiovascular health. It is often used to study the effects of therapies on patients with limited heart function. For example, many individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) have limited cardiac function. Because cardiac output is difficult to measure directly, various methods have been used to estimate it. However, the usefulness of these methods in SCI is still unclear. In this study, we evaluated the reproducibility of cardiac output using a technique known as “carbon dioxide rebreathing.” We found that cardiac output can be estimated in persons with SCI during exercise with reproducibility that is similar to studies in nondisabled persons.

Volume 44 Number 4 2007
Pages 547 — 552