Conclusions
paraplegia, CIVD
COLD, PARAPLEGIA
In conclusion, our findings demonstrated considerable inter-individual variability in CIVD responses in both the paraplegic and able-bodied groups. We observed vasodilatory responses in the fingers and toes of participants with paraplegia during immersion of the hands and feet in cold water; a response that is defined as a CIVD in able-bodied individuals. While these responses in the toes of the paraplegic participants technically fulfilled the criteria for CIVD, their characteristics are counterintuitive, and it is unlikely that they reflect the phenomenon of CIVD observed in able-bodied individuals. Taken together, the evidence presented herein favor the contribution of central over peripheral factors in relation to the origin and/or control of CIVD. Finally, there are no standardized criteria to identify CIVD for people with paraplegia or able-bodied individuals. The only well-accepted criterion is the continuous increase of at least 1 °C in finger/toe skin temperature. This knowledge gap should be addressed by future studies, potentially adopting the Delphi method, to provide more clarity to the CIVD phenomenon.