The Spinal Cord Injury Program in Exercise (SCIPE) study: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial evaluating teleexercise programs for people with spinal cord injury

Trials, 2021 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-021-05474-4 · Published: July 21, 2021

Spinal Cord Injury Telehealth & Digital Health Research Methodology & Design

Simple Explanation

This study investigates whether exercise programs delivered remotely can help people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) become more physically active. Many individuals with SCI face challenges accessing exercise resources, making it difficult to maintain their health and function. The study compares two different teleexercise programs, Movement-to-Music (M2M) and Standard Exercise Training (SET), against a control group. The goal is to determine if these programs can increase physical activity levels, improve sleep quality and overall quality of life, and reduce pain and fatigue in participants with SCI. The findings from this study could help to address transportation barriers to exercise and improve the overall well-being of people with SCI through readily available exercise programs delivered via technology.

Study Duration

8-week intervention

Participants

327 adults with SCI

Evidence Level

Level 1: Three-arm adaptive randomized controlled trial

Key Findings

1
The primary outcome is change in physical activity level at post 8-week intervention.
2
Secondary outcomes include changes in pain intensity, pain interference, sleep quality, fatigue, health-related quality of life, and exercise enjoyment at 8 weeks.
3
The study incorporates two interim analyses to assess feasibility and effectiveness, allowing for early termination of ineffective intervention arms and efficient resource allocation.

Research Summary

The SCIPE study is a three-arm randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of two teleexercise interventions (Movement-to-Music and Standard Exercise Training) compared to an Attention Control group in adults with SCI. The primary goal is to examine changes in physical activity levels after an 8-week intervention period, with secondary outcomes focusing on health and quality of life improvements. The study also evaluates demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables to understand factors influencing participant compliance and non-compliance with the interventions.

Practical Implications

Accessibility to Exercise

Teleexercise programs can overcome transportation barriers and increase access to tailored exercise resources for people with SCI.

Improved Health Outcomes

Effective teleexercise interventions may lead to improvements in physical activity levels, sleep quality, and overall quality of life, while reducing pain and fatigue.

Sustainable Exercise Behavior

Home-based exercise programs delivered via technology could promote long-term engagement in physical activity and address common barriers such as inaccessible facilities and expensive gym memberships.

Study Limitations

1
The study is limited by its online nature, which may exclude individuals without broadband internet access.
2
The study's reliance on self-reported data for outcome measures may introduce bias.
3
The lack of blinding for participants and study staff involved in intervention delivery could affect the results.

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