A national survey of physical activity after spinal cord injury

Abstract

Physical activity is a powerful modifiable risk factor for disease and mortality. Physical activity levels in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) have not been quantified relative to uninjured individuals in a large population-based sample. We aimed to quantify and compare physical activity in people with and without SCI, and to examine the associations between physical activity, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors. The 2010 Canadian Community Health Survey (n > 57,000) was used, which includes three measures that assess physical activity levels (i.e., leisure time activity frequency, leisure time activity intensity, and transportation time activity intensity). Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were performed and odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. The odds of physical activity in people with SCI were 0.43 (95% CI 0.3–0.61), 0.53 (95% CI 0.36–0.75), and 0.42 (95% CI 0.28–0.61), across the three measures of physical activity, respectively. These differences persisted after adjustment for lifestyle, comorbidities, and socioeconomic factors. Physical activity is reduced in the SCI population compared with the general population. This knowledge is important to direct future research and guide the allocation of health care resources.

Electrical Stimulation Exercise for People with Spinal Cord Injury: A Healthcare Provider Perspective

“…A national health survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2020 [46] determined that only 24.2% of adults aged 18 and over met the physical activity guidelines for Americans for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities (150 min per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and muscle strengthening exercises to the major muscle groups twice per week) [46]. Individuals with SCI perform only 35-40% as much exercise as the largely sedentary able-bodied population, demonstrating the extreme lack of physical activity in the SCI population [47,48]. Recently, Tui et al [49] completed a qualitative study concerning the motivations and barriers that limit adherence to exercise programs for individuals with SCI.…”

mHealth-Based Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention to Improve the Physical Activity Levels of Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…On the lower end, Tasiemski et al found that only 20% of 985 people with SCI in the UK performed regular PA of 2 h/ week, and 53.3% reported no regular PA [10]. Furthermore, several other studies have indicated that the majority of individuals with SCI do not perform regular PA [11][12][13].…”

The Impact of Caregiver/Care-Receiver Co-Treatment in a Therapeutic Lifestyle Intervention for Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: A Comparative Case Series

“…Advancement in medicine and science has resulted in the increased survivability of individuals who sustain a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), and a notable shift in healthcare focus towards managing chronically acquired diseases, particularly cardio-metabolic disease (CMD). A significant contributing factor to CMD in chronic SCI is the complex interplay of physical inactivity [1,2] altered body composition [3][4][5][6], and metabolic dysfunction [7,8] due to the neurological impairment. The resultant prevalence of conditions such as obesity [9][10][11], dyslipidemia [12][13][14][15], and insulin resistance [16][17][18], which often cluster into so-called cardio metabolic syndrome, constitute leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the population.…”