Exercise self-efficacy and the relation with physical behavior and physical capacity in wheelchair-dependent persons with subacute spinal cord injury

A national survey of physical activity after spinal cord injury

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.

Effects of Paraplegia Fitness Integrated Training on Physical Function and Exercise Self-Efficacy and Adherence Among Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury

Objective

To determine the effects of the Paraplegia Fitness Integrated Training (PARAFiT) program, which is an integrated graded physical exercise and health education program for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods

This nonrandomized single-blind study included 44 participants, who were assigned to either an intervention (PARAFiT) group or an active control (conventional physiotherapy) group. The intervention group underwent the PARAFiT program (8 weeks), which consisted of circuit-based interval training, progressive upper limb resistance training, and health education sessions. During the unsupervised period, the intervention group continuously underwent health education program once a month for 2 months (8 weeks). Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used for the analysis.

Results

The intervention group presented with a higher level of physical activity than did the control group; however, the difference was not significant (p=0.36). Additionally, the intervention group presented with better exercise self-efficacy and cardiorespiratory fitness and stronger bilateral shoulder muscle and handgrip than did the control group (all p<0.05). Exercise adherence was higher in the intervention group than in the control group during both the supervised (80% vs. 75%) and unsupervised (40% vs. 20%) periods.

Conclusion

The PARAFiT program enhanced the level of physical activity, exercise self-efficacy, physical fitness, and exercise adherence among the patients with SCI. Future studies should incorporate guidelines for home-based exercises and regular monitoring to promote long-term adherence to exercise and physical activity among individuals with SCI.

Social cognitive theory as a guide for exercise engagement in persons with multiple sclerosis who use wheelchairs for mobility

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated neurodegenerative disease of the brain, optic nerves and spinal cord. Among persons with MS, 30% experience significant mobility impairment that requires use of a wheelchair for mobility. Exercise is an evidence-based second-line therapy that can improve mobility; however, little research has focused on individuals that use wheelchairs for mobility. Framed by social cognitive theory (SCT), we conducted a formative qualitative study examining exercise status and perceptions among 20 persons with MS who use wheelchairs for mobility. Using deductive, semantic thematic analysis, we coded for SCT variables (i.e. self-efficacy, knowledge, outcome expectations, barriers and facilitators) and identified participants as regular or inconsistent exercisers. In total, 12 participants were classified as regular exercisers and 8 inconsistent exercisers. Regular exercisers more frequently reported high self-efficacy, consistent exercise knowledge and numerous facilitators. All participants reported some positive outcome expectations and several barriers and facilitators. These findings can inform future intervention studies supporting exercise behavior change through SCT. Strategies such as increasing self-efficacy, imparting instructional materials, shaping realistic outcome expectations and providing tools directed toward overcoming barriers and identifying facilitators may work to support the exercise endeavor of persons with MS who use wheelchairs for mobility.

Safety and Feasibility of Various Functional Electrical Stimulation Cycling Protocols in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis Who Are Nonambulatory

Objective

To examine the safety, feasibility, and response to functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling protocols requiring differing levels of effort in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who are nonambulatory.

Design

Pilot study with pre-post intervention testing.

Setting

Outpatient clinic setting of a long-term acute care hospital.

Participants

Individuals (N=10) with MS (6 men; mean age 58.6±9.86y) who use a wheelchair for community mobility. Participants’ Expanded Disability Status Scale score ranged from 6.5 to 8.5 (median 7.5).

Intervention

Participants performed 3 or 4 FES cycling protocols requiring different levels of volitional effort during 6-8 testing sessions.

Main Outcome Measures

The primary outcome was safety, measured by adverse events and increase in MS symptoms, all assessed throughout, immediately post- and 1 day postsession. FES cycling performance for each protocol was also recorded. Exploratory outcome measures collected before and after all testing sessions included functional assessment of MS, MS Impact Scale, Exercise Self Efficacy Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 item, and the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale.

Results

All participants (4 women, 6 men) completed all testing sessions. There were no serious adverse events or differences in vitals or symptoms between protocols. Two participants had an isolated episode of mild hypotension. Changes in pain, spasticity, and fatigue were minimal. Five participants were able to cycle for 30 minutes and completed interval training protocols requiring increasing difficulty. The remainder cycled for <3 minutes and completed a rest interval protocol. There was modest improvement on the exploratory outcome measures.

Conclusions

People with MS who use a wheelchair for community mobility can safely perform FES cycling requiring more effort than previously reported research. Therefore, the individuals may experience greater benefits than previously reported. Further study is required to better understand the potential benefits for optimizing function and improving health in people with MS.

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People with multiple sclerosis who are nonambulatory can safely perform functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling using parameters requiring more effort.

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FES cycling may offer an opportunity for increased exercise stimulus or neuromuscular training if individuals are adequately challenged using an appropriate cycling protocol.

Health promotion and cardiovascular risk reduction in people with spinal cord injury: physical activity, healthy diet and maintenance after discharge- protocol for a prospective national cohort study and a preintervention- postintervention study

INTRODUCTION

Spinal cord injury (SCI) predisposes those who suffer from it to physical inactivity and weight gain; consequently, death due to cardiovascular diseases is more frequent among people with SCI than in the general population. The literature documents a consensus about an interdisciplinary multimodal approach for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors including overweight and obesity in people with SCI, focusing on diet, physical activity (PA) and behavioural interventions. This study will investigate implementation of recommendations from a recent clinical practice guideline for identification and management of cardiometabolic risk after SCI through multimodal patient education in a subacute clinical setting.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

All patients who are aged 18 years or older with an SCI within the previous 12 months and admitted to highly specialised rehabilitation are included, regardless of SCI aetiology or neurological level. A primary study designed as a controlled, pragmatic, preintervention- postintervention study with 6-month follow-up evaluates the effect of the clinical intervention; a prospective national cohort study on body mass index (BMI) serves as a historical control. The intervention consists of a standardised approach to patient education about cardiovascular risk factors, PA and a healthy diet that begins at the outset of primary SCI rehabilitation and is integrated into existing settings and workflows. Outcome measures are collected at admission, discharge and 6 months after discharge and include peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) (primary outcome), BMI, body composition, metabolic profile, neurological status, level of functioning, depression, quality of life, objective PA (accelerometry), self-reported PA, self-assessed PA ability, shared decision making, and dietary habits. Test-retest reliability of four VO2peak test protocols are investigated, as is test-retest reliability of a multisensor accelerometer in a rehabilitation setting.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The project is approved by the Committees on Health Research Ethics in the Capital Region of Denmark on 10 July 2018 (Journal-nr.: H-18018325). The principal investigator obtains informed consent from all participants. The interventions in the project are closely related to existing rehabilitation care, and the risk of pain and discomfort is considered modest. Any unintended events related to the elements of the intervention are reported, according to existing regional procedures. Data are stored in a secure web-based database (Redcap). The primary study and prospective cohort study are registered at Clinicaltrials.gov. Positive and negative results will be submitted to relevant scientific journals related to SCI for publication. Important protocol modifications are reported to the Committees on Health Research Ethics in the Capital Region of Denmark.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS

NCT03689023 and NCT03369080.

Cardiac autonomic response after cranial technique of the fourth ventricle (cv4) compression in systemic hypertensive subjects

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare blood pressure (BP) behavior and heart rate variability (HRV) among hypertensive stage I and normotensive individuals who were submitted to the cranial technique of the 4th ventricle compression (CV4), an osteopathic technique.

METHODS

In this experimental controlled study, thirty men between 40 and 60 years old were evaluated and divided into two groups: normotensive (NT) and hypertensive (HT). The CV4 maneuver was applied in both groups and BP was measured at 5 (five) different stages: pre and post-intervention, 5, 10 and 15min after technique. Time-frequency parameters were obtained from measurements of RR intervals. Data were analyzed using an ANOVA two-way for analysis of the condition factor (NT and HT) and times with p-value ≤ .05.

RESULTS

There was a reduction in the BP of the HT group. A significant intergroup difference (p = .01) was noticed, with respect to the standard deviation of successive normal R-R intervals (SDNN) values, mainly between pre-intervention and 15min stages. Concerning root mean square of the mean squared differences (RNSSD) values, the highlights were differences between pre-intervention and 10min (p = .01) only in the NT group. There was an increase in high frequencies (HF) values and a low frequencies (LF) attenuation in both groups at all different stages.

CONCLUSION

The data showed a BP reduction in the HT group in pre-intervention/15min and an increase in parasympathetic activity and decreased sympathetic activity in both groups. This suggests a change in the sympathetic-vagal balance. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the data on BP reduction mechanisms with CV4.

Relationship of Fitness and Wheelchair Mobility With Encounters, Avoidances, and Perception of Environmental Barriers Among Manual Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury

OBJECTIVE

To assess (1) if fitness and mobility are related to behavior and perception of physical barriers and (2) if behavior and physical barrier perception are related.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional case series.

SETTING

Academic Medical Laboratory.

PARTICIPANTS

Manual wheelchair users (N=50) with chronic spinal cord injury (62% paraplegia).

INTERVENTION

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Participants completed the following assessments: (1) fitness: graded exercise test (aerobic) and Wingate (anaerobic); (2) mobility: 6-minute push test and 30-second sprint test; (3) physical barrier behavior: Encounters of Environmental Features in the Environmental Aspects of Mobility Questionnaire (EAMQ); (4) physical barrier perception: Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factor (CHIEF) Environmental Barriers domain.

RESULTS

Individuals with paraplegia had higher fitness, mobility, and environmental barrier encounter rates and lower avoidance per encounter rates vs tetraplegia (all P≤.05). For individuals with tetraplegia only, as mobility and fitness increased, frequencies of (1) encounters increased; (2) avoidances per encounter decreased, in multiple EAMQ domains (all P≤.05). Perception of barriers did not differ between lesion levels (P=.79). Mobility and fitness were not related to environmental barriers perception in both groups (all P>.17).

CONCLUSIONS

Fitness and mobility are associated with barrier behaviors (ie, encounters and avoidances) among individuals with tetraplegia, but not paraplegia. Despite a greater barrier avoidance rate, persons with tetraplegia do not perceive more physical barriers than persons with paraplegia. Surprisingly, fitness and mobility were not related to perception of barriers in either group. More research is required on if barrier perception, behavior, or both influence participation, to enable rehabilitation programs to tailor interventions to enhance participation.