Study design: A systematic review
Objective: The purpose of this study was to systematically identify, review, synthe-size, and appraise current chronic exercise intervention literature on arterial dynamics in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). By doing so, this study aimed to highlight gaps and compelling evidence, and guide future research directions that will help to advance understanding and application of different training modalities.
Setting: Literature searches were carried out for appropriate articles using several databases (e.g. PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE).
Methods: Two independent reviewers evaluated the quality of each article, using the physiotherapy Evidence Database Scale (PEDro) for randomized controlled trials and Downs and Black Scale for all other studies. A table with all outcomes from each investigation were listed, and levels of evidence assigned.
Results: A total of 337 studies were found through the systematic literature search. Through examination, 27 articles were included. The articles were distinguished into the arterial benefits from the chronic exercise interventions. The potential to improve arterial function and structure in those with SCI was supported by limited to good methodological quality. It appears from the evidence that a variety of exercise modal-ities, passive cycling, arm exercises, functional electrical stimulation (FES), hybrid electrically stimulated, body weight supported treadmill (BWST), electrically stimu-lated knee extension, endurance and resistance training can improve arterial function in those living with SCI.
Conclusion: The overall quality and volume of evidence was low-to-average. There is limited literature that supports exercise as a useful intervention technique for im-proving arterial function and structure in those with SCI.

Keywords: Systematic review; therapeutic; exercise; spinal cord injury; tetraplegia; paraplegia

Supervisors: Ryan Godsk Larsen, Rasmus Kopp Hansen
- We thank you for your time and helpful guidance.