Improving Activity Engagement among persons with spinal cord injury during COVID-19: Virtual Physical Activity Program Feasibility Study

ABSTRACT

Background: The current pandemic has reduced access to safe, monitored physical activity (PA) programs for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Inactivity can contribute to a multitude of secondary complications including worsening physiological and psychosocial health. The use of telerehabilitation has the potential for continuing activity engagement without the risk of virus exposure. The present study evaluates the feasibility and limited efficacy of an online group based PA program for persons with SCI. Methods: This preliminary pre-post study delivered an online group based PA program to persons with SCI (n=5). Inclusion criteria were the following 18 years or older;sustained an SCI;living in the community;some upper limb function permitting arm movement against gravity. The program consisted of 50-minute sessions twice weekly for six weeks. After each session participants completed an adverse events diary and rate of perceived exertion. Psychosocial subscales from the NeuroQOL-SF were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Paired sample t-tests were used to assess limited efficacy on outcomes of interest. Online PA satisfaction questionnaires were assessed at post-treatment. Results: Participants were between 3 - 32 years post-injury, females, and between the ages of 36 and 76 . 3 of the participants had quadriplegia and 4 had an incomplete injury. The program resulted in significant improvement post intervention on anxiety (p.