Expert consensus for a digital peer-led approach to improving physical activity among individuals with spinal cord injury who use manual wheelchairs

BACKGROUND Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) is a critical component of a healthy lifestyle for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, most individuals are not sufficiently active to accrue health benefits. The Active Living Lifestyles program for individuals with SCI who use manual wheelchairs (ALLWheel) targets important psychological factors that are associated with LTPA uptake and adherence while overcoming some barriers associated with participation restrictions. OBJECTIVE The goal of the paper is to describe the protocol for the development and evaluation of the ALLWheel program for individuals with SCI who use manual wheelchairs. METHODS The first three stages of the Medical Research Council framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions (ie, preclinical, modeling, exploratory) are described. The preclinical phase will consist of scoping and systematic reviews and review of theory. The intervention will be modeled by expert opinions and consensus through focus groups and Delphi surveys with individuals with SCI, clinicians, and community partners. Finally, the feasibility and potential influence of the ALLWheel program on LTPA and psychological outcomes will be evaluated. RESULTS This project is funded by the Craig H Neilsen Foundation, the Fonds de Recherche du Québec–Santé, and the Canadian Disability Participation Project and is currently underway. CONCLUSIONS Using peer trainers and mobile phone technology may help to cultivate autonomy-supportive environments that also enhance self-efficacy. Following a framework for developing and evaluating a novel intervention that includes input from stakeholders at all stages will ensure the final product (ie, a replicable intervention) is desirable to knowledge users and ready for evaluation in a randomized controlled trial. If effective, the ALLWheel program has the potential to reach a large number of individuals with SCI to promote LTPA uptake and adherence. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPOR RR1-10.2196/10798

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Supplemental Material for Examining Physical Activity Trajectories for People With Spinal Cord Injury

Health Psychology ◽

10.1037/a0027795.supp ◽

2012 ◽

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Cord Injury

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The effect of level of injury and physical activity on heart rate variability following spinal cord injury

Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine ◽

10.1080/10790268.2017.1383709 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 212-219 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Athanasios Kyriakides ◽

Dimitrios Poulikakos ◽

Angeliki Galata ◽

Dimitrios Konstantinou ◽

Elias Panagiotopoulos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Spinal Cord ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Cord Injury

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Working mechanisms of a behavioural intervention promoting physical activity in persons with subacute spinal cord injury

Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine ◽

10.2340/16501977-2110 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 48 (7) ◽

pp. 583-588 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

C Nooijen ◽

H Stam ◽

I Schoenmakers ◽

T Sluis ◽

M Post ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Behavioural Intervention ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Working Mechanisms

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Metabolic syndrome in people with a long-standing spinal cord injury: associations with physical activity and capacity

Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1139/apnm-2016-0269 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 41 (11) ◽

pp. 1190-1196 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Sonja de Groot ◽

Jacinthe J. Adriaansen ◽

Marga Tepper ◽

Govert J. Snoek ◽

Lucas H.V. van der Woude ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Aerobic Capacity ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Peak Aerobic Capacity

This study investigated (i) the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in people with a long-standing spinal cord injury (SCI); (ii) whether personal or lesion characteristics are determinants of the MetS; and (iii) the association with physical activity or peak aerobic capacity on the MetS. In a cross-sectional study, persons with SCI (N = 223; time since injury of ≥10 years) were tested. The individual components of the MetS were assessed together with the physical activity measured by the Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities (PASIPD), while peak aerobic capacity was tested during a graded wheelchair exercise test on a treadmill. Thirty-nine percent of the participants had MetS. In a multivariate logistic regression analyses and after performing a backward regression analysis, only age and education were significant determinants of the MetS. A 10-year increase in age leads to a 1.5 times more chance to have the MetS. Furthermore, people with a low education will multiply the relative risk of MetS compared with people with high education by almost 2. With and without correcting for confounders, no significant relationship was found between PASIPD or peak aerobic capacity and the MetS. It can be concluded that the prevalence of the MetS is high (39%) in people with a long-standing SCI but is comparable to the general Dutch population. Older people and those with a lower education level are most at risk for the MetS. Physical activity and peak aerobic fitness were not related to the MetS in this group with a long-standing SCI.

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