Physical Activity and the Health of Wheelchair Users: A Systematic Review in Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, and Spinal Cord Injury

Dissonance in views between healthcare professionals and adults with a spinal cord injury with their understanding and interpretation of exercise intensity for exercise prescription

“…It is widely accepted that maintaining a physically active lifestyle through participation in exercise for adults living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) should be encouraged 1–3. Health benefits include a lower risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and consequently improvements in functional independence, social reintegration and psychological well-being are noted 4 5.…”

“…Health benefits include a lower risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and consequently improvements in functional independence, social reintegration and psychological well-being are noted 4 5. Having clear guidance that describes the dose of exercise that is required for improving cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiometabolic health in adults with SCI,3 6 plays a pivotal role for healthcare professionals (HCPs). The composition of this HCP team during the rehabilitation phase within SCI services typically includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, social workers, clinical psychologists, nurses and doctors.…”

“…Given the large number of adults with SCI affected by an array of cardiometabolic complications, with obesity being the most common,3 21 it is important that health referral pathways of supporting effective exercise programmes are encouraged. While Hoekstra et al 22 have used community-engaged methods to translate the physical activity guidelines for use within Canada, we must step back to consider how different end-users (eg, HCP vs adults living with SCI) interpret the exercise intensity portion of such guidelines.…”

“…It is widely accepted that maintaining a physically active lifestyle through participation in exercise for adults living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) should be encouraged. [1][2][3] Health benefits include a lower risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and consequently improvements in functional independence, social reintegration and psychological wellbeing are noted. 4 5 Having clear guidance that describes the dose of exercise that is required for improving cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiometabolic health in adults with SCI, 3 6 plays a pivotal role for healthcare professionals (HCPs).…”

Evaluation of a Physical-Psychological Integrative (PPI) intervention for community-dwelling spinal cord injury survivors: Study protocol of a preliminary randomized controlled trial

“…However, only half of these studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and most were conducted in the inpatient rehabilitation or the sub-acute phase of post-SCI people. Limited high-quality trials have focused on the long-term rehabilitation outcomes (e.g., physically active lifestyle, chronic pain, and psychological well-being) of people with SCI living in the community [ 20 , 21 ]. One reason for the lack of trials might be due to barriers of transportation and lack of face-to-face interaction with healthcare professionals [ 22 ].…”