Establishing evidence-based physical activity guidelines: methods for the Study of Health and Activity in People with Spinal Cord Injury (SHAPE SCI)

• Published in: Spinal cord Vol. 46; no. 3; pp. 216 - 221
• Main Authors: Martin Ginis, K A, Latimer, A E, Buchholz, A C, Bray, S R, Craven, B C, Hayes, K C, Hicks, A L, McColl, M A, Potter, P J, Smith, K, Wolfe, D L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01-03-2008; Nature Publishing; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Anatomy; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cerebrospinal fluid. Meninges. Spinal cord; Cohort Studies; Coronary Disease - etiology; Coronary Disease - physiopathology; Evidence-Based Medicine - methods; Female; Guidelines as Topic; Human Physiology; Humans; Injuries of the nervous system and the skull. Diseases due to physical agents; Insulin Resistance - physiology; Interviews as Topic; Male; Medical sciences; Motor Activity - physiology; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurochemistry; Neurology; Neuropsychology; Neurosciences; Obesity - etiology; Obesity - physiopathology; Ontario; original-article; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Spinal Cord Injuries - complications; Spinal Cord Injuries - physiopathology; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Ontario; secondary complications; exercise; evidence-based practice; chronic disease; methodology; lifestyle; Physical exercise; Nervous system diseases; Vertebral canal; Methodology; Chronic disease; Spinal cord trauma; Central nervous system disease; Complication; Spinal cord disease
• ISSN: 1362-4393; 1476-5624
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.sc.3102103

Study design:
Prospective, observational cohort study.
Objectives:
This paper describes the rationale and methodology for the Study of Health and Activity in People with Spinal Cord Injury (SHAPE SCI). The study aims to (1) describe physical activity levels of people with different injury levels and completeness, (2) examine the relationship between physical activity, risk and/or presence of secondary health complications and risk of chronic disease, and (3) identify determinants of physical activity in the SCI population.
Setting:
Ontario, Canada.
Methods:
Seven hundred and twenty men and women who have incurred a traumatic SCI complete self-report measures of physical activity, physical activity determinants, secondary health problems and subjective well-being during a telephone interview. A representative subsample (
n
=81) participate in chronic disease risk factor testing for obesity, insulin resistance and coronary heart disease. Measures are taken at baseline, 6 and 18 months.
Conclusion:
SHAPE SCI will provide much-needed epidemiological information on physical activity patterns, determinants and health in people with SCI. This information will provide a foundation for the establishment of evidence-based physical activity guidelines and interventions tailored to the SCI community.