615 - The Effect of Adaptive Sports on Energy Expenditure in Wheelchair Users

Friday, February 20, 2026

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM AST

Presenting Author(s)

VM

Vanessa D. Molina, BS

Medical Student - OMS 4
Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Houston, Texas, United States
MM

Mohammad Mahdi, BS

Medical Student, OMS-3
Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Sugarland, Texas, United States
AK

Abrar Khazi, BS

Medical Student
Paul L. Foster School of Medicine - Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso
El Paso, Texas, United States

Co-Author(s)

FC

Fernan Chong, BS

Medical Student
Texas A&M University
Conroe, Texas, United States
MC

Michael Cottingham, PhD

Associate Professor of Sport and Fitness Administration
University of Houston - Department of Health and Human Performance
Houston, Texas, United States

Submitter(s)

VM

Vanessa D. Molina, DO

Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Houston, Texas, United States

Objectives: Total Energy Expenditure (TEE) includes three components: resting energy expenditure (REE), thermic effect of food (TEF), and activity-induced energy expenditure (AIEE), with REE comprising the largest portion. Energy expenditure varies by body composition, diet, and physical activity level, with a positive correlation to muscle mass specifically. Ambulatory wheelchair users typically have lower energy expenditure than able-bodied individuals due to muscle loss. This review examines how adaptive sport participation affects energy expenditure in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: Search across 2 databases (PubMed and Google Scholar) with keywords “Energy” or “Expenditure”, “Wheelchair”, “Disability”, and “Sport” or “Athlete”. Inclusion criteria: Publicly published cross-sectional, review, and cohort studies from the years 2015-2025.

Results: REE and AIEE can be measured using various methods, including indirect calorimetry, heart rate monitoring with calibration, and wheelchair accelerometers. A 2020 study using these techniques showed that individuals with SCI typically exhibit lower REE than matched able-bodied controls. However, a 2019 study found that SCI athletes tend to have higher REE than sedentary individuals with SCI, as energy expenditure positively correlates with lean body mass. When calculating energy expenditure in this population, factors such as lesion level, sport type, atypical sympathetic effects, and diet must be considered. Despite these complexities, few studies have explored energy expenditure across diverse lesion levels, sport types, and participation. Further investigation is essential, as understanding energy expenditure more comprehensively could significantly improve therapeutic and nutritional planning for individuals with SCI.

Conclusions: Adaptive sports raise AIEE in individuals with SCI. While REE is typically reduced with muscle loss, athletes show higher expenditure rates than sedentary peers. These findings suggest potential cardiometabolic benefits, though more research is needed to inform personalized exercise, nutrition, and rehabilitation strategies in this population.