The effects of spasticity on glucose metabolism and soft tissue body composition in patients with spinal cord injury

Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) often experience muscle atrophy due to reduced physical activity, which can also lead to alterations in glucose metabolism and body composition. Spasticity, characterized by involuntary muscle contractions, has been suggested to potentially preserve muscle mass in SCI patients and may positively influence glucose metabolism by maintaining fat-free mass (FFM). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between spasticity, glucose metabolism, and fat-free mass in patients with both motor complete and motor incomplete SCI.

• 1
  In patients with motor complete SCI, a positive correlation was found between hip adductor muscle spasticity and trunk, android, and gynoid fat-free mass percentages.
• 2
  In patients with motor complete SCI, hip extensor and knee flexor muscle spasticity showed a negative correlation with the HOMA-IR, indicating a potential link between spasticity and improved insulin resistance.
• 3
  In patients with motor incomplete SCI, knee extensor muscle spasticity positively correlated with gynoid FFM%, and spasm frequency correlated positively with fat-free mass in arms, trunk, gynoid region, and total body.