Leisure time physical activity in a population-based sample of people with spinal cord injury part I: demographic and injury-related correlates.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the number of minutes a day of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) performed by people with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) and to identify the demographic and injury-related characteristics associated with LTPA in a population-based sample of people with chronic SCI.


METHODS
Cross-sectional telephone survey.


METHODS
General community.


METHODS
Men and women with SCI (N=695).


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
The number of minutes/day of LTPA performed at a mild intensity or greater.


RESULTS
Respondents reported mean minutes +/- SD of 27.14+/-49.36 of LTPA/d; however, 50% reported no LTPA whatsoever. In a multiple regression analysis, sex, age, years postinjury, injury severity, and primary mode of mobility each emerged as a unique predictor of LTPA. Multiple correspondence analysis indicated that being a man over the age of 34 years and greater than 11 years postinjury was associated with inactivity, while being a manual wheelchair user and having motor complete paraplegia were associated with the highest level of daily LTPA.


CONCLUSIONS
Daily LTPA levels are generally low in people with SCI. Women, older adults, people with less recent injuries, people with more severe injuries, and users of power wheelchairs and gait aids are general subgroups that may require special attention and resources to overcome unique barriers to LTPA. Specific subgroups may also require targeted interventions.
Ginis
Kathleen A Martin
KA
Department of Kinesiology, Centre for Health Promotion and Rehabilitation, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. martink@mcmaster.ca <martink@mcmaster.ca>
Latimer
Amy E
AE
Arbour-Nicitopoulos
Kelly P
KP
Buchholz
Andrea C
AC
Bray
Steven R
SR
Craven
B Catharine
BC
Hayes
Keith C
KC
Hicks
Audrey L
AL
McColl
Mary Ann
MA
Potter
Patrick J
PJ
Smith
Karen
K
Wolfe
Dalton L
DL
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013997:Time Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices