Pilot Study of a Sedentary Behaviour Intervention for Individuals With a Spinal Cord Injury

Individuals with spinal cord injury have a greater risk of heart disease and stroke than non-disabled individuals. This might be partly because wheelchair users engage in high amounts of sedentary behaviour. A review found a lack of programmes aimed at reducing sedentary behaviour in individuals with paraplegia. This means we do not know how good these programmes are for reducing heart disease risk markers. A programme to support reductions in sedentary behaviour has been co-designed with individuals with paraplegia, healthcare professionals, and people who support individuals with paraplegia in the community. This study aims to evaluate the new programme to determine its acceptability, fidelity, safety and preliminary efficacy. The Reducing sedEntary Activities to improve Cardiovascular Health in individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (REACH -SCI) intervention will last eight weeks and involve (1) a wearable activity tracker to give reminders to break up sedentary behaviour, (2) education around what sedentary behaviour is, how to reduce and break up sedentary behaviour, and the benefits of doing so, (3) a goal setting worksheet related to sedentary behaviour, (4) one-to-one motivational support sessions to help set goals, review progress and give motivation, (5) peer support using a group chat with other participants in a smartphone messaging app , and (6) activity tools (exercise bands and a handcycle) to support breaking up sedentary behaviour throughout the day. Measurements of fatigue, pain, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, heart disease risk markers, wellbeing, anxiety, depression and quality of life will be taken at baseline before the programme starts and then again after the programme ends. Acceptability of the intervention and data collection procedures will be explored using semi-structured interviews and questionnaires.