Document Type
Presentation
Publication Date
4-24-2024
Faculty Mentor
Scott Hutchison
Abstract
Individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are 1.5 times more likely to disengage in exercise one-year post-injury despite 80% of these individuals agreeing that exercise is critical to their overall health and quality of life (Baehr. Et al., 2022). A needs assessment was conducted on why the lack of engagement in exercise exists for individuals with SCIs within fitness facilities to identify barriers preventing participation. A quality improvement program called the Spinal Cord Injury Wellness Toolkit was created based off these findings and implemented at the MUSC Wellness Center. 14 individuals with SCIs participated at wellness center; REDCap surveys were given before and after their visitation. It was found that participant’s overall confidence in the wellness facility, gym equipment, exercise knowledge, and staff awareness of SCI precautions showed a significant increase. Thematic analyses from post-implementation surveys showed that participants agreed the toolkit provided security & safety, showed adaptability, provided various kinds of equipment, versatile, easily understood, catered to a wide variety of injury levels, and increased confidence & quality of life. Feedback was taken into consideration to create a final copy, which was then copyrighted. The wellness program was disseminated to the MUSC Wellness Center and other fitness facilities, hospital-based therapy facilities, MUSC research affiliates, and SCI support groups within SC. This toolkit will further be distributed across the US to increase overall social inclusion and exercise engagement for individuals with SCIs.
Recommended Citation
Baehr, L. A., Kaimal, G., Hiremath, S. V., Trost, Z., & Finley, M. (2022). Staying active after rehab: Physical activity perspectives with a spinal cord injury beyond functional gains. PloS one, 17(3), e0265807. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265807
Included in
Community-Based Research Commons, Movement and Mind-Body Therapies Commons, Occupational Therapy Commons, Other Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons, Physical Therapy Commons, Recreational Therapy Commons, Social Psychology and Interaction Commons, Sports Sciences Commons, Sports Studies Commons