Original Article

Spinal Cord (2009) 47, 301–306; doi:10.1038/sc.2008.120; published online 21 October 2008

Physical activity is related to lower levels of pain, fatigue and depression in individuals with spinal-cord injury: a correlational study

A E Tawashy1,2,3, J J Eng1,2,3, K H Lin4, P F Tang4 and C Hung2,3

  1. 1Rehabilitation Research Lab, GF Strong Rehab Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  2. 2Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  3. 3International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  4. 4School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

Correspondence: Dr JJ Eng, Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Rehabilitation Research Lab, University of British Columbia, GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 2B5. E-mail: Janice.Eng@vch.ca

Received 15 April 2008; Revised 29 August 2008; Accepted 30 August 2008; Published online 21 October 2008.

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Abstract

Study design:

 

This was a prospective cross-sectional study for people with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI).

Objectives:

 

To (1) evaluate the intensity level and nature of physical activity in community-dwelling individuals living with SCI, and (2) explore the relation between descriptive individual variables (for example, lesion level), secondary complications and participation in physical activity.

Setting:

 

Urban community setting.

Methods:

 

A total of 49 subjects with SCI who used a manual wheelchair for primary mode of mobility (mean years since injury, 11.8; mean age, 43.7 years; 67% paraplegia) completed the physical activity recall assessment for people with SCI (PARA-SCI).

Results:

 

Approximately 50% of reported physical activity among individuals with SCI is due to activities of daily living. The amount of physical activity was not related to lesion level, age, body mass index or waistline size. Greater heavy-intensity activity was related to lower levels of pain and fatigue and higher levels of self-efficacy, whereas higher amounts of mild-intensity activity and total activity were related to less depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

 

Activities of daily living are a large component for physical activity among individuals with SCI. It appears that greater physical activity is associated with less secondary complications (pain, fatigue and depression) in individuals with SCI.

Keywords:

exercise, physical activity, participation, quality of life

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