Encouraging People with Spinal Cord Injury to Take Part in Physical Activity in the COVID-19 Epidemic through the mHealth ParaSportAPP

Healthcare, 2022 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10061069 · Published: June 9, 2022

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Telehealth & Digital Health

Simple Explanation

This study examines whether a smartphone app (ParaSportAPP) can help people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) increase their physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The app provides exercises and healthy lifestyle tips. Researchers measured physical and psychological variables to see if the app made a difference. The results showed no significant improvements in the variables studied, but the authors suggest the app may have lessened the pandemic's negative impact.

Study Duration

16 Months

Participants

14 people with paraplegia

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The ParaSportAPP did not significantly improve quality of life, anxiety, depression, resilience, independence, self-reported physical activity, or physical capacity in people with SCI.
2
There was an intervention effect on the self-esteem subscale (χ22 = 6.0; p = 0.05; ε2 = 0.46), although no statistically signiﬁcant differences were found between any of the measurement times after the pairwise comparison.
3
The study suggests the app may have mitigated the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the studied variables.

Research Summary

The study evaluated the effectiveness of the ParaSportAPP, a mobile health application, in promoting physical activity and improving physical and psychological variables in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). The study found no significant differences in the measured variables (quality of life, anxiety, depression, etc.) between the measurement times, which included a period during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the lack of significant improvements, the authors suggest that the ParaSportAPP may have played a role in lessening the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the studied variables for people with SCI.

Practical Implications

Mitigating Pandemic Effects

mHealth apps like ParaSportAPP could potentially lessen the impact of global events such as pandemics on the physical and mental well-being of vulnerable populations like those with SCI.

mHealth App Design

Further research should focus on improving user engagement and customization of exercise programs within mHealth apps to enhance their effectiveness in promoting physical activity.

Accessibility Considerations

It is essential to consider the accessibility of mHealth when focusing on people with disabilities.

Study Limitations

1
Small sample size due to participant attrition, partly due to COVID-19 related concerns.
2
The exercises were not chosen by the user but were provided randomly.
3
COVID-19 pandemic broke out between the pre-test 2 and post-test measurements, which may have had a signiﬁcant impact on these results.

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