Risk Factors for the Metabolic Syndrome in Wheelchair Users - Basketball Players and Non-Practitioners.

Physical activity has been systematically studied as a prevention element of chronic degenerative diseases, especially the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Sedentary habits are related to the decrease or absence of minimal parameters of daily physical exercises beyond the resting condition, and they have been strongly associated with the decrease of health in disabled individuals. The metabolic responses of the body in the absence of certain muscles, or its inactivity due to the lack of stimuli, lead to significant differences in the structure of the body composition. This research had as aim regular physical exercise and health condition of disabled individuals, through the determination of the anthropometric and blood biochemical profile. Moreover, the prevalence of risk factors for the metabolic syndrome has been determined. 27 men with paraplegia (T2-L1), presenting polio sequelas or amputation, were divided in two groups: wheelchair basketball players and (WBP) and wheelchair non-basketball players (WNBP). The WBP presented waist circumference smaller than the WNBP, 76.40+8.44 and 89.25+9.73 cm respectively (p < 0.05). The systolic arterial pressure was significant bigger in WNBP 123.33+13.70 and 144.00+9.85 mmHg for WBP (p < 0.05), and no difference for PAD was verified. WNBP presented higher numbers than WBP for blood glycemic biochemistry, TG, CT and fractions, except for HDL-C (p < 0.05). WNBP individuals presented high prevalence for risk factors of metabolic syndrome, being arterial hypertension prevalent in 58.33% of the individuals; HDL-C dyslipidemia present in 50%, and waist circumference above normality in 41.66%. The findings of the present study corroborate others described in the literature on high prevalence of risk factors for metabolic syndrome among individuals with physical disabilities with low levels of regular physical activity. The evidence raised suggests an important role of regular physical exercise as suitable prevention device for metabolic syndrome.