Leisure-Time Physical Activity in People With Spinal Cord Injury-Predictors of Exercise Guideline Adherence

Paul K Watson; Mohit Arora; James W Middleton; Camila Quel de Oliveira; Robert Heard; Andrew Nunn; Timothy Geraghty; Ruth Marshall; Glen M Davis

doi:10.3389/ijph.2022.1605235

Leisure-Time Physical Activity in People With Spinal Cord Injury-Predictors of Exercise Guideline Adherence

Int J Public Health. 2022 Dec 12:67:1605235. doi: 10.3389/ijph.2022.1605235. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Paul K Watson¹, Mohit Arora^{2

3}, James W Middleton^{2

3}, Camila Quel de Oliveira⁴, Robert Heard⁵, Andrew Nunn⁶, Timothy Geraghty^{7

8}, Ruth Marshall^{9

10}, Glen M Davis¹

Affiliations

¹ Discipline of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
² Northern Sydney Local Health District, John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research, The Kolling Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
³ Translational Research Collective, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁴ Department of Physiotherapy, Graduate School of Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia.
⁵ Discipline of Behavioural and Social Sciences in Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁶ Victorian Spinal Cord Service, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia.
⁷ Queensland Spinal Cord Injuries Service, Division of Rehabilitation, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
⁸ The Hopkins Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
⁹ South Australian Spinal Cord Injury Service, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
¹⁰ Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

Abstract

Objectives: This study described leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) for people in Australia with spinal cord injury (SCI) and whether certain sociodemographic and psychosocial variables might be associated with LTPA uptake and guidelines adherence. Methods: The Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with a Physical Disability was used to measure the intensity and volume of LTPA of 1,579 individuals with SCI. Summary statistics were calculated for LTPA guidelines adherence. Analyses included regression modelling. Results: Of the 1,579 participants, 58% performed LTPA and 13% adhered to recommended guidelines for weekly LTPA. There was an association with being an "exerciser" based on the time since injury (OR = 1.02 [95% 1.01-1.03]), a traumatic injury (OR = 1.53 [95% CI 1.13-2.08]) and a higher self-rating of health (OR = 1.10 [95% CI 0.95-1.27]). Where LTPA guidelines were met, adherence was most related to a traumatic injury (OR = 1.75 [95% CI 1.02-3.02]) and being unemployed (OR = 1.53 [95% CI 1.03-2.25]). Conclusion: Of those who performed LTPA with SCI, one in four met population-specific LTPA guidelines. Sociodemographic variables were moderately associated with being an "exerciser" or LTPA "guideline-adherent."

Keywords: Australia; community survey; exercise; leisure time physical activity; physical activity; physical activity guidelines; spinal cord injury.

MeSH terms

Exercise / psychology
Guideline Adherence
Humans
Leisure Activities* / psychology
Motor Activity
Spinal Cord Injuries*