TY - JOUR
T1 - Increased muscle strength in paralyzed patients after spinal cord injury
T2 - Effect of beta-2 adrenergic agonist
AU - Signorile, Joseph F.
AU - Banovac, Kresimir
AU - Gomez, Maria
AU - Flipse, Diana
AU - Caruso, John F.
AU - Lowensteyn, Ilka
PY - 1995/1
Y1 - 1995/1
N2 - The administration of β-2 adrenergic agonists in experimental animals result in an increased strength of skeletal muscle. In this study, we evaluated whether a β-2 adrenergic agonist, metaproterenol, had an effect on muscle size and strength in a group of patients with muscular atrophy following spinal cord injury. Ten male subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups and agreed to participate in a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and crossover study. Metaproterenol (80 mg/day), or placebo, was administered orally for a period of 4 weeks. Muscle strength was measured by a force transducer interfaced with a microcomputer. Muscle size was calculated and expressed as a cross-sectional area of upper arm and forearm using a formula. Metaproterenol induced a significant increase of muscle strength in both groups of subjects, compared with placebo (p < .001). Similarly, there was an increase in a muscle size in the forearm following the administration of metaproterenol. Our data indicate that β-2 adrenergic agonists may improve both muscle strength and size in patients with muscular atrophy following spinal cord paralysis.
AB - The administration of β-2 adrenergic agonists in experimental animals result in an increased strength of skeletal muscle. In this study, we evaluated whether a β-2 adrenergic agonist, metaproterenol, had an effect on muscle size and strength in a group of patients with muscular atrophy following spinal cord injury. Ten male subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups and agreed to participate in a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and crossover study. Metaproterenol (80 mg/day), or placebo, was administered orally for a period of 4 weeks. Muscle strength was measured by a force transducer interfaced with a microcomputer. Muscle size was calculated and expressed as a cross-sectional area of upper arm and forearm using a formula. Metaproterenol induced a significant increase of muscle strength in both groups of subjects, compared with placebo (p < .001). Similarly, there was an increase in a muscle size in the forearm following the administration of metaproterenol. Our data indicate that β-2 adrenergic agonists may improve both muscle strength and size in patients with muscular atrophy following spinal cord paralysis.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0003-9993(95)80043-3
DO - 10.1016/S0003-9993(95)80043-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 7811176
AN - SCOPUS:0028854561
VL - 76
SP - 55
EP - 58
JO - Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
JF - Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
SN - 0003-9993
IS - 1
ER -