A description and estimate of very low-intensity activity and inactive awake time in community-dwelling adults with chronic spinal cord injury

Abstract

Study Design: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data. Objectives: To estimate the amount of very low-intensity activity (VLPA) or inactive daily awake time that people with spinal cord injury (SCI) engage in and to determine correlates of VLPA/inactivity in this population. Setting: Community (Ontario, Canada). Methods: Participants with SCI (n = 695; M age = 47 years; M years post-injury = 15 years, 76% men) completed telephone interviews. Demographic details and injury-related characteristics were self-reported. Total daily physical activity (for example, mild, moderate and heavy intensity) was measured using the Physical Activity Recall Assessment for People with SCI (PARA-SCI). VLPA/inactivity was calculated by subtracting total daily physical activity time from daily awake time. Correlates of VLPA/inactivity were assessed using a hierarchical linear regression where demographic variables were entered on the first step and injury-related characteristics were entered second. Results: Participants reported VLPA/inactivity for approximately 768 ± 169 min per day, or 84%, of their awake time. The regression model predicting VLPA/inactivity was not significant. Conclusion: People with SCI spend the majority of their awake time in VLPA/inactivity. However, VLPA/inactivity did not differ as a function of demographic or injury-related variables, suggesting that all segments of the SCI population could benefit from strategies to reduce inactivity.

Determinants of physical activity in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury or lower limb amputation: perspectives of rehabilitation professionals and wheelchair users

“…An active lifestyle is even more important for wheelchair users [8]. In wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI) or lower limb amputation, physical inactivity, being overweight, lower life satisfaction and low vitality are frequently reported problems [4,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. A cycle of deconditioning can arise, in which an inactive lifestyle leads to an increase in body weight, resulting in secondary problems as fatigue, distress, low vitality and sleeping disorders, which in turn lead to an even more inactive lifestyle [15,16].…”

Measuring Physical Activity in Spinal Cord Injury Using Wrist-Worn Accelerometers

“…D espite many health benefits of physical activity for people with spinal cord injury (SCI; Cragg et al, 2012;Ginis et al, 2011), people with SCI are extremely inactive. Only 13%-16% report consistent physical activity (Fernhall et al, 2008;Washburn & Hedrick, 1997), whereas the majority report no physical activity (Perrier & Martin Ginis, 2016;Tasiemski et al, 2000). Numerous barriers to increasing physical activity in people with SCI exist, such as mobility limitations and a lack of accessible physical activities (Vissers et al, 2008).…”