Sedentary Behavior in People With Spinal Cord Injury

Physical activity and sedentary behavior in people with spinal cord injury: Mitigation strategies during COVID-19 on behalf of ACSM-EIM and HL-PIVOT

“…Therefore, “muscular inactivity” may be a more appropriate, but less commonly used term to describe SB in people with SCI. 8 It is also important to note the controversy present in the field regarding SB reduction for people with SCI due to the postural challenges of the injury. However, PA and SB are independent factors targeted by separate recommendations for able-bodied populations.…”

“…During COVID-19 and beyond, the SCI community needs guidance in establishing COVID-19-safe recommendations for engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors to promote PA and reduce sedentary behavior (SB). 8 , 9 Importantly, SB and PA are distinct lifestyle behaviors, which are independently associated with cardiometabolic disease risk in the general able-bodied population. 10 , 11 As such, SB (while awake, any behaviors performed in a seated or reclined position ≤ 1.5 Metabolic Equivalents 12 ) may also be an independent cardiometabolic risk factor for people with SCI.…”

“… 10 , 11 As such, SB (while awake, any behaviors performed in a seated or reclined position ≤ 1.5 Metabolic Equivalents 12 ) may also be an independent cardiometabolic risk factor for people with SCI. 8 Therefore, activity guidelines for people with SCI, their caregivers, and healthcare team may need to expand to include strategies helping to reduce SB. 8 , 13 This commentary will 1) address the impact of COVID-19 on PA and SB in people with SCI, 2) provide potential strategies to reduce SB to guide future research, and 3) provides recommendations for to promote PA and reduce SB reduction based on a socio-ecological model.…”

Biomarkers of cardiometabolic health are associated with body composition characteristics but not physical activity in persons with spinal cord injury

“…Nevertheless, other physical activity dimensions such as sedentary time and light-intensity activity have been shown to provide considerable (and arguably independent) health-related benefits in the general population. [13][14][15] Despite recent interest in sedentary behaviours in persons with SCI, 16 such physical activity dimensions remain to be analysed in the context of cardiometabolic health biomarkers in this population.…”

Type, intensity and duration of daily physical activities performed by adults with spinal cord injury

“…Given that people with SCI spend the majority of their days inactive or in very low activity (for example, sitting and reading), 32 this study makes an important contribution to our understanding of what activities people with SCI do between bouts of LTPA and inactivity, as well as assists clinicians to identify patients who may be less likely to be involved in other daily activities that break up inactive time. As Verschuren et al 33 highlight, little is known about sedentary behaviour and energy expenditure in general among people with SCI. Thus, although our study provides a first step in understanding these relationships, future research should examine the association between chronic disease and patterns of daily activities, sedentary behaviour and LTPA.…”