Leg cycling increases cardiorespiratory activity in tetraplegia
Lay summary and graphic by Preshon Pillay Edited by Jocelyn Chan This is a lay summary of the paper Jan Elaine Soriano, Rinaldo Romac, Jordan W. Squair, Otto F. Barak, Zoe K. Sarafis, Amanda H.X. Lee, Geoff B. Coombs, Bita Read More...
Lay summary and graphic by Preshon Pillay Edited by Jocelyn Chan This is a lay summary of the paper Jan Elaine Soriano, Rinaldo Romac, Jordan W. Squair, Otto F. Barak, Zoe K. Sarafis, Amanda H.X. Lee, Geoff B. Coombs, Bita Vaseghi, Christopher Grant, Rebecca Charbonneau, Tanja Mijacika, Andrei V. Krassioukov, Philip N. Ainslie, Kelly A. Larkin-Kaiser, Aaron A. Phillips, and Zeljko Dujic. Read the original article here. People who have suffered a spinal cord injury (SCI) have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. This is especially true for those who live with tetraplegia, a loss of function in all four limbs. Physical activity and exercise have been proven to benefit health outcomes in people living with an SCI such as reducing the elevated cardiovascular disease risk. However, most current recommendations are for moderate to vigorous exercise involving primarily the arms, which might be challenging for individuals with a cervical SCI to undertake. There has been new evidence suggesting that exercising paralyzed legs could provide similar health benefits. How was the study done? The study enrolled 12 individuals with a traumatic cervical SCI between the age of 18-65 years, in which the individuals sustained their SCI at least 1 year prior to inclusion in the study. Participants rested laying down for 15 minutes, during which a baseline measurement was taken including heart rate and blood pressure. The setup for passive cycling and the protocol used in this study can be seen in Figure 1 along with a video publicly available here. Cycling was performed for 10 minutes at a speed of 29 ± 1 revolutions per minute in which cardiovascular and respiratory parameters were constantly monitored. These parameters included the following: <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="51609" data-permalink="https://icord.org/2022/08/leg-cycling/passive-leg-cycling-parameters-image/" data-orig-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Passive-Leg-Cycling-Parameters-Image.png" data-orig-size="6912,3456" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Passive Leg Cycling &#8211; Parameters Image" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Passive-Leg-Cycling-Parameters-Image-1024x512.png" class=" wp-image-51609 aligncenter" src="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Passive-Leg-Cycling-Parameters-Image-300x150.png" alt="" width="680" height="340" srcset="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Passive-Leg-Cycling-Parameters-Image-300x150.png 300w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Passive-Leg-Cycling-Parameters-Image-1024x512.png 1024w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Passive-Leg-Cycling-Parameters-Image-768x384.png 768w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Passive-Leg-Cycling-Parameters-Image-1536x768.png 1536w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Passive-Leg-Cycling-Parameters-Image-2048x1024.png 2048w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Passive-Leg-Cycling-Parameters-Image-266x133.png 266w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Passive-Leg-Cycling-Parameters-Image-1080x540.png 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-51610" data-attachment-id="51610" data-permalink="https://icord.org/2022/08/leg-cycling/images_large_apnm-2021-0523f1-1/" data-orig-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/images_large_apnm-2021-0523f1-1-scaled.jpeg" data-orig-size="2560,1699" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Figure 1 Passive Cycling" data-image-description="" data-image-caption=" Figure 1 – Passive Cycling Protocol and Setup " data-large-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/images_large_apnm-2021-0523f1-1-1024x680.jpeg" class=" wp-image-51610" src="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/images_large_apnm-2021-0523f1-1-300x199.jpeg" alt="" width="580" height="385" srcset="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/images_large_apnm-2021-0523f1-1-300x199.jpeg 300w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/images_large_apnm-2021-0523f1-1-1024x680.jpeg 1024w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/images_large_apnm-2021-0523f1-1-768x510.jpeg 768w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/images_large_apnm-2021-0523f1-1-1536x1019.jpeg 1536w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/images_large_apnm-2021-0523f1-1-2048x1359.jpeg 2048w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/images_large_apnm-2021-0523f1-1-266x177.jpeg 266w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/images_large_apnm-2021-0523f1-1-1080x717.jpeg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px" /> Figure 1 from original research article – Passive Cycling Protocol and Setup What were the results of this study? The results of this study showed that cardiovascular function was increased during passive leg cycling. This was seen by elevations in many of the parameters discussed above such as blood pressure, heart rate, and FMD (flow-mediated dilation). Passive leg cycling also increased the respiratory drive with increases in minute ventilation and tidal volume. Please refer to the figure above for explanations of blood pressure, heart rate, FMD, minute ventilation, and tidal volume. These results show that passive leg-cycling is an effective exercise for people with cervical SCI. Out of all twelve individuals that took part in the study, only one individual suffered a significant spike in blood pressure known as autonomic dysreflexia and therefore their involvement in the study was suspended. This individual’s blood pressure did not stabilize within the session timeline but was monitored closely by a team of physicians and returned to baseline before the participant left the laboratory. This form of exercise is therefore well-tolerated with a 92% success rate. However, the small sample size needs to be considered. What does this mean for the SCI community? This study showed that passive leg cycling safely increased the activity of the cardiorespiratory system and therefore can provide beneficial improvements to prevent cardiovascular disease. People with SCI who want to engage in exercise should therefore discuss it with their physicians to evaluate if passive leg cycling is a viable exercise option and how to partake in it.
SCI impairs heart function due to impaired sympathetic control
Lay summary by Noah Kaiser, Malachy Frey, Chris West Edited by Jocelyn Chan This is a lay summary of the original Nature Communications research article by Mary Fossey, Shane Balthazaar, Jordan Squair, Alexandra Williams, Malihe-Sadat Poormasjedi-Meibod, Tom Nightingale, Erin Erskine, Brian Read More...
Lay summary by Noah Kaiser, Malachy Frey, Chris West Edited by Jocelyn Chan This is a lay summary of the original Nature Communications research article by Mary Fossey, Shane Balthazaar, Jordan Squair, Alexandra Williams, Malihe-Sadat Poormasjedi-Meibod, Tom Nightingale, Erin Erskine, Brian Hayes, Mehdi Ahmadian, Garett Jackson, Diana Hunter, Katharine Currie, Teresa Tsang, Matthias Walter, Jonathan Little, Matt Ramer, Andrei Krassiokov, Chris West. The goal of this study was to describe the upper-body movement patterns during seated boxing and battling rope exercises in individuals with motor-complete spinal cord injury (SCI). Specifically, the researchers looked at trunk muscle activation patterns and upper-body kinematics (motion analysis without considering force). Trunk muscles can generally be thought of as upper-body muscles since the trunk refers to the torso, which contains the chest, abdomen, pelvis and back. Therefore, trunk muscles are very important for both breathing and movement. Why is this study important? This study is significant because it demonstrates how and why the heart changes after spinal cord injury (SCI). The findings from this work could help us to design therapies to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and improve heart function in individuals with a SCI. How was the study done and what were the results? This paper was split into two separate parts: Part 1 The research in part one was performed via clinical trials on individuals with SCI and other experimental models. The clinical trials were performed on individuals with a high-level spinal cord injury (SCI). Non-invasive methods were used to image the heart, and the outcome was that there is a gradual drop in left ventricle (LV) structure. The left ventricle is one of the four large chambers of the heart. Specifically, there was no change in the heart structure at 6 months post-SCI but structure was reduced by 2 years post-injury. This highlights a plausible window for intervention within the first 6 months before heart structure starts to change. In the experimental laboratory studies, invasive as well as non-invasive strategies were used to determine the effects of SCI on the heart. The non-invasive tests produced results similar to the clinical trial, with a gradual reduction of LV structure. The invasive tests showed an immediate reduction of LV function. It was also discovered that there is an immediate reduction in sympathetic neural control. Sympathetic neural control refers to the control of our sympathetic system, which is also known as our fight and flight system. Part 2 Multiple experiments were devised in part 2 to understand the role that the reduction in sympathetic (SP) neural control has on the decreased cardiac function post-SCI seen in Part 1. To test the role of the SP system in LV function, the rodent models were put under anesthesia while data was assessed at three points, pre-intervention (control), post-SCI, and post-SCI after a receptor-blocking drug was administered. SCI caused a drastic decrease in LV pressure generating capacity (PGC; I.e., heart function) that was not further reduced with the drug. This study provided initial proof that damage to SP nerves is a direct cause of decreased cardiac function after SCI. To further demonstrate the role of the SP nervous system, the next experiment explored whether a SCI at varying locations could cause a different level of LV impairment. The rodent model cohort was randomized into 3 groups and received one of three procedures: a high-SCI (near complete loss of SP control), a low-SCI (preserves SP control), or no procedure (i.e. control group). They were then monitored for 12 weeks afterwards to collect data using invasive methods. LV PGC, contractility (heartbeat strength), and heart efficiency were lower in the high-SCI group relative to both the low-SCI and control. There was also no notable difference in LV function between the control group and the low-SCI group, where the SP pathways were intact. This further demonstrates that a SCI can impair LV function based on location, which dictates how severely it affects the SP system. This final experiment was to verify the previous one, as it could be argued that other factors, such as in cage activity, may have differed between rodent models with different levels of injuries. To isolate the SP variable, the high-SCI group was further divided into 2 groups. One group received a drug that preserves descending SP pathways, while the other group did not receive any drugs (i.e. the control group). After 8 weeks their LV function was assessed using invasive methods. LV contractility and PGC were all higher in the group that received the drug. However, there was no difference in the average arterial pressure. This proved once more that a loss in LV function seen in after SCI was caused by damage to the SP system. Conclusion This study demonstrated that there is an immediate decrease in cardiac function after a SCI, and a gradual decrease in cardiac structure, which is caused by damage to SP nervous system that controls the LV. This opens the door for future studies to investigate how strategies that target the SP pathways impact heart function following SCI.
Impact of COVID-19 on depression, anxiety, and quality of life in people with SCI
Lay summary and infographic by Justin Yap Edited by Crystal Han and Jocelyn Chan This is a lay summary of the article by Alejandro García-Rudolph, Joan Saurí, Jaume López Carballo, Blanca Cegarra, Mark Andrew Wright, Eloy Opisso, Josep María Tormos. Read More...
Lay summary and infographic by Justin Yap Edited by Crystal Han and Jocelyn Chan This is a lay summary of the article by Alejandro García-Rudolph, Joan Saurí, Jaume López Carballo, Blanca Cegarra, Mark Andrew Wright, Eloy Opisso, Josep María Tormos. Read the original article here. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about many changes to the daily lives of individuals worldwide such as physical distancing, an increase in unemployment, and restrictions on services such as non-essential travel, businesses, and access to healthcare. Previous research has shown that individuals with disabilities during non-pandemic times are more likely to experience lower socioeconomic status, overall health and employment rates. While the impact may vary among individuals of different socioeconomic statuses, ages, regions and public health orders across the world, it remains unknown how the pandemic has affected the mental health of individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). What is the purpose of the study? This study investigates the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with chronic SCI by comparing self-rating questionnaire scores on community integration, quality of life, anxiety and depression before and during COVID-19. How was the study conducted? 175 individuals with chronic SCI (tetraplegia/paraplegia) were included in this study based on past in-person assessments from a hospital Researchers provided study participants with 3 types of online questionnaires: Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS): measures participants’ frequency of symptoms of anxiety and depression through a self-rated scale Community integration questionnaire (CIQ): measures participants’ engagement and frequency of engagement in 3 different categories Home integration (e.g. grocery shopping, household chores) Social integration (e.g. personal finances) Productive activities (e.g. work, volunteer) World health organization quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF): evaluates the quality of life through self-reported responses by participants to 26 different questions divided into 5 categories: Physical health Psychological health Social relationships Environment Overall quality of life The scores from each questionnaire were compared to the participants’ previous responses before the pandemic What were the main findings of the study? During the COVID-19 pandemic participants with chronic SCI experienced: Increase likelihood of depression No difference in the likelihood of anxiety Decrease social integration Younger participants (19-54 years old) had lower WHOQOL-BREF score during COVID-19 compared to older participants (55+) who experienced no change. Researchers believe these differences can be explained by psychological resilience, which may serve a protective role in combating negative stressors. Why is this important for the SCI community? The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the mental health of individuals with chronic SCI, specifically feelings of depression and social integration. Further research should seek to improve the quality and accessibility of mental health resources for individuals with chronic SCI.
Physiological responses during active video games in SCI
Lay summary and infographic by Justin Yap Edited by Crystal Han and Jocelyn Chan This is a lay summary of the article by Amanda Barboza Tosi, Julio Cesar Silva de Sousa, Cláudia Lúcia de Moraes Forjaz, and Camila Torriani-Pasin. Read Read More...
Lay summary and infographic by Justin Yap Edited by Crystal Han and Jocelyn Chan This is a lay summary of the article by Amanda Barboza Tosi, Julio Cesar Silva de Sousa, Cláudia Lúcia de Moraes Forjaz, and Camila Torriani-Pasin. Read the original article here. Exercise for people with spinal cord injury (SCI) helps reduce the risk of adverse cardiovascular function and obesity. However, there are several obstacles hindering physical activity participation, such as accessing exercise facilities, lack of resources, and engaging activities. Lack of physical activity may lead to adverse health outcomes. Active video games (AVG) are video games that involve body movement to participate. Past studies have found the use of AVG as a form of exercise helps overcome some of the barriers to exercise for people with SCI by demonstrating a positive effect on psychological (calmness and tension) and motivational components (reduced pain). While AVG shows potential in reducing barriers to exercise and improving health benefits, the required intensity of AVG to obtain these health benefits is unknown. What is the purpose of the study? This study aimed to determine the intensity of active video games by measuring the heart rate and oxygen consumption during exercise (VO2) of participants to quantify energy expenditure and obtain ventilatory thresholds. Ventilatory thresholds are markers that describe a range to help quantify the intensity of an aerobic stimulus (“cardio”). Exercise intensity that falls within this threshold is considered optimal to improve aerobic capacity. How was the study conducted? Eight people between the age of 18-50 years old with paraplegic injuries at the thoracic, lumbar or sacral levels were included in the study. The study procedure was broken down into two steps: Study participants performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) to determine the following parameters: ventilatory threshold, peak heart rate, and VO2 max 48 hours after the CPET, participants completed the following three sessions in random order: One control session consisting of watching a movie Two AVG sessions each with four sets consisting of tennis AVG, and boxing AVG HR and VO2 were constantly measured throughout each session and the average of these values was taken. Energy expenditure (EE) was calculated using the average VO2 for each session divided by the energy spent at rest (metabolic equivalents) for individuals with SCI. Ventilatory threshold was obtained by tracking breathing rate and VO2 max changes and compared betwen AVGs. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="51498" data-permalink="https://icord.org/2022/08/video-games/screen-shot-2022-08-15-at-12-56-35-pm/" data-orig-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-12.56.35-PM.png" data-orig-size="2142,1302" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Stage 1" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-12.56.35-PM-1024x622.png" class=" wp-image-51498 aligncenter" src="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-12.56.35-PM-300x182.png" alt="" width="585" height="355" srcset="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-12.56.35-PM-300x182.png 300w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-12.56.35-PM-1024x622.png 1024w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-12.56.35-PM-768x467.png 768w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-12.56.35-PM-1536x934.png 1536w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-12.56.35-PM-2048x1245.png 2048w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-12.56.35-PM-266x162.png 266w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-12.56.35-PM-1080x656.png 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="51502" data-permalink="https://icord.org/2022/08/video-games/screen-shot-2022-08-15-at-1-05-12-pm/" data-orig-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-1.05.12-PM.png" data-orig-size="1188,1142" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Stage" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-1.05.12-PM-1024x984.png" class="wp-image-51502 aligncenter" src="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-1.05.12-PM-300x288.png" alt="" width="647" height="622" srcset="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-1.05.12-PM-300x288.png 300w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-1.05.12-PM-1024x984.png 1024w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-1.05.12-PM-768x738.png 768w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-1.05.12-PM-208x200.png 208w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-1.05.12-PM-1080x1038.png 1080w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-15-at-1.05.12-PM.png 1188w" sizes="(max-width: 647px) 100vw, 647px" /> What were the main findings of the study? Overall, AVGs were found to be a low intensity aerobic stimulus for people with SCI. Boxing was found to be a greater aerobic stimulus than tennis, meaning boxing showed a greater increase in heart rate and VO2. This suggests that the AVG boxing is a greater intensity activity than tennis AVG. One limitation is the small sample size of participants reduces this study’s ability to draw significant differences between the AVG and control groups. Additionally, findings may not be generalizable to all individual’s with SCI due to a small pool of injury levels tested. Why is this important for the SCI community? AVG can be used as a low intensity exercise or as a complement to conventional rehabilitation programs for people with SCI. Since AVG is accessible and can be done at home, this may increase the frequency and duration of AVG usage. Further, as obesity is quite common due to limited mobilty in individuals with SCI, energy used when playing these AVG also could aid in weight loss.
Oxygen uptake during adapted rowing versus arm cycle
Lay summary and illustrations by Xueqing Zhou This is the lay summary written on the paper “Acute physiological comparison of sub-maximal exercise on a novel adapted rowing machine and arm crank ergometry in people with a spinal cord injury” Sawatzky, Read More...
Lay summary and illustrations by Xueqing Zhou This is the lay summary written on the paper “Acute physiological comparison of sub-maximal exercise on a novel adapted rowing machine and arm crank ergometry in people with a spinal cord injury” Sawatzky, B., Herrington, B., Choi, K., Mortenson, B., W., Borisoff, J., Sparrey, C., & Laskin, J. J. (2022). Read the original article here. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-51487" data-attachment-id="51487" data-permalink="https://icord.org/2022/08/oxygenuptake/02_adptrow_01/" data-orig-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/02_AdptRow_01.png" data-orig-size="2360,1640" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="02_AdptRow_01" data-image-description="" data-image-caption=" Illustration based on Figure 1 of original research article " data-large-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/02_AdptRow_01-1024x712.png" class="wp-image-51487 size-medium" src="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/02_AdptRow_01-300x208.png" alt="" width="300" height="208" srcset="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/02_AdptRow_01-300x208.png 300w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/02_AdptRow_01-1024x712.png 1024w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/02_AdptRow_01-768x534.png 768w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/02_AdptRow_01-1536x1067.png 1536w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/02_AdptRow_01-2048x1423.png 2048w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/02_AdptRow_01-266x185.png 266w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/02_AdptRow_01-1080x751.png 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> Illustration based on Figure 1 in original research article The goal of this study was to test and compare oxygen uptake (VO2) during exercise using the adapted rowing machine and the arm cycle in people with spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D). VO2 during aerobic exercise reflects a person’s ability to take in and use the oxygen in active muscles and other tissues to keep moving. Greater VO2 values can be thought of as more intense exercise challenging one’s heart, lungs, and metabolism. How was the study done? The rowing machine used in this study was adapted from a Concept2 Indoor Rower, and could fit manual or power wheelchairs. It had an adjustable frame with support pads, one over the thighs and one in front of the chest. The chest support was optional to accommodate different levels of trunk stability. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="51488" data-permalink="https://icord.org/2022/08/oxygenuptake/02_adptrow_03/" data-orig-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_03.png" data-orig-size="2360,1640" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="02_AdptRow_03" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_03-1024x712.png" class="size-medium wp-image-51488 alignright" src="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_03-300x208.png" alt="" width="300" height="208" srcset="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_03-300x208.png 300w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_03-1024x712.png 1024w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_03-768x534.png 768w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_03-1536x1067.png 1536w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_03-2048x1423.png 2048w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_03-266x185.png 266w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_03-1080x751.png 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />14 adults with SCI/D with varying levels of trunk stability participated in this study. After an orientation session, participants were tested on the arm cycle and the adapted rowing machine on two separate days. On each day, participants began with a warm-up/practice on the selected machine, and exercised for 5 minutes each at self-selected low and moderate workloads. Metabolic data, such as VO2 and heart rate, and perceived physical exertion (how hard you feel like your body is working), were recorded during the exercise. What were the results of this study? The main findings of this study were that: At the same workload, participants reached a much higher VO2 using the adapted rowing machine than they did on the arm cycle. This might be explained by: (1) the biomechanics of the rowing machine makes it less efficient to transfer power from the body to the rowing system; (2) the rowing machine uses more of the larger posterior shoulder muscles. Participants reported that exercising on the adapted rowing machine felt harder than exercising on the arm cycle. However, participants did not necessarily think of “feeling harder” as a negative thing. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="51489" data-permalink="https://icord.org/2022/08/oxygenuptake/02_adptrow_02/" data-orig-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_02.png" data-orig-size="2360,1640" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="02_AdptRow_02" data-image-description="" data-image-caption=" Illustration based on Figure 1 in original reearch article " data-large-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_02-1024x712.png" class="alignright wp-image-51489 size-medium" src="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_02-300x208.png" alt="" width="300" height="208" srcset="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_02-300x208.png 300w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_02-1024x712.png 1024w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_02-768x534.png 768w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_02-1536x1067.png 1536w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_02-2048x1423.png 2048w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_02-266x185.png 266w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/02_AdptRow_02-1080x751.png 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> What does this mean for the SCI community? Aerobic exercise is beneficial for health and wellbeing after SCI/D. However, lacking access to affordable, adaptive exercise facility/equipment prevents many individuals from participating. Since wheelchair users rely heavily on anterior shoulder muscles for daily activities, it is important to balance with exercises that focus on the posterior shoulder muscles while not worsening shoulder pain. The adapted rowing machine developed for this study broadens the options for aerobic exercises for people with SCI/D. It could use more of the posterior shoulder muscles, offer an enjoyable and effective workout, and challenge one’s body more compared to the traditional arm cycle machine. Limitations: The sample size was relatively small, and the participants were likely more active than the general population of people with SCI/D. Participants exercised on the arm cycle and adapted rowing machines only for 5 minutes; researchers still need to test exercises over longer durations for potential overuse injuries, such as skin shearing.
SCI exercise in hospital and community settings
Lay summary by Jasleen Dhaliwal Edited by Jocelyn Chan This is a lay summary of a clinical trial protocol by ICORDian Dr. Martin Ginis. Read the original article here. The physical challenges associated with transitioning from in-hospital care to community living Read More...
Lay summary by Jasleen Dhaliwal Edited by Jocelyn Chan This is a lay summary of a clinical trial protocol by ICORDian Dr. Martin Ginis. Read the original article here. The physical challenges associated with transitioning from in-hospital care to community living can be difficult for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). This article is a protocol paper for an ongoing clinical trial, which means the findings have not yet been published. This study is important because it will address how physical activity coaching can impact an individual with SCI’s readiness, goals, and barriers as it pertains to exercise. This is especially important because the time period following discharge from the hospital is when physical activity declines the most and at a rapid rate for individuals with SCI. Furthermore, individuals with SCI display lower levels of physical activity when compared to other populations faced with various chronic physical conditions. What is the purpose of the study? The purpose of this study is to understand how coordinated physical activity can affect the transition from in-hospital care to community living for individuals with SCI. More specifically, the purpose is to observe the effectiveness of two types of coaching on physical activity; 1) physiotherapists and 2) SCI peers during the transition from hospital care to community living. This will be done by analyzing behavioural and social predictors, such as perceived risks, self-efficacy, planning, and social support. How will the clinical trial be conducted? The study will be conducted in rehabilitation hospital and community settings in British Columbia, Canada. The physical activity coaches are physiotherapists and SCI peers. Physiotherapists and SCI peers will receive two training sessions, which include training, monitoring, and feedback. The participating individuals with SCI will complete a questionnaire prior to participating, as well as multiple times throughout the study. More specifically, this survey will be done at baseline, post-training, and at both the 2-month and 6-month follow-ups. Interviews will also be conducted at 6 months. This questionnaire includes factors that assess the effectiveness of physical activity coaching. 55 individuals with SCI will participate in this study. These individuals were split up into two groups; a control group of 25 individuals and a physical activity coaching group with 30 individuals. The control group received usual care and no coaching. The physical activity coaching group received coaching from a physiotherapist and SCI peer. What does this mean for the SCI community? For individuals with SCI, physical activity drops immensely in the months following discharge from the hospital. Therefore, beginning physical activity coaching prior to discharge can be quite beneficial for individuals with SCI. More specifically, a level of coordination is required between hospital discharge and integration into the community. Physiotherapists and SCI peers both play a key role in bridging this gap and promoting a physically active lifestyle for individuals with SCI. Hospital setting: Physiotherapists can begin physical activity coaching with individuals with SCI in a hospital setting in order to reduce the decline in activity once an individual integrates back into a community setting. Physiotherapists have the training that allows them to excel in coaching individuals with SCI in physical activity. Community setting: SCI peers can provide physical activity coaching for individuals with SCI after discharge from the hospital. In a community setting, SCI peers are a valuable source for providing physical activity support to recently discharged SCI individuals. SCI peers can use their personal experiences to aid others going through this transition and have the benefit of being able to directly empathize with this experience. All in all, physiotherapists play a key in physical activity coaching in a hospital setting, while SCI peers play a key role in a community setting. Limitations of the study Each individual with SCI who will receive physical activity coaching will be coached with a unique plan. In other words, the treatment plans will be altered based on the individual’s needs. There will be many different variables from individual to individual, for example, session timing and intensity of the exercise will differ for each person. This can be a limiting factor because having too many variables may make it difficult to compare and interpret the final findings. For example, an individual who had shorter sessions may be more likely to show a drop in physical activity compared to an individual who had longer session times. All in all, differing treatment plans may show different results when compared to a study where the course of treatment was kept consistent across individuals.
Upper-body activity in boxing and battle rope exercise
Lay summary by Xueqing Zhou Edited by Jocelyn Chan This is the lay summary written on the paper “Trunk muscle activity and kinematics during boxing and battle rope exercise in people with motor-complete spinal cord injury” by Gevorg Eginyan, Alison Read More...
Lay summary by Xueqing Zhou Edited by Jocelyn Chan This is the lay summary written on the paper “Trunk muscle activity and kinematics during boxing and battle rope exercise in people with motor-complete spinal cord injury” by Gevorg Eginyan, Alison Williams, Konrad Joseph and Dr. Tania Lam. Read the original article here. The goal of this study was to describe the upper-body movement patterns during seated boxing and battling rope exercises in individuals with motor-complete spinal cord injury (SCI). Specifically, the researchers looked at trunk muscle activation patterns and upper-body kinematics (motion analysis without considering force). Trunk muscles can generally be thought of as upper-body muscles since the trunk refers to the torso, which contains the chest, abdomen, pelvis and back. Therefore, trunk muscles are very important for both breathing and movement. How was the study done? 4 people with motor-complete SCI and 4 uninjured controls participated in this study, and performed 3 boxing exercises followed by 2 battle rope exercises. The researchers used electromyography (EMG) to quantify the electrical activity of the muscles in the abdomen and along the spine. In addition, a motion capture system was used to measure joint angles and the degree of trunk curvature during the exercises. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="50512" data-permalink="https://icord.org/2022/05/trunkmuscle/png3/" data-orig-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png3.png" data-orig-size="2360,1640" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="emg" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png3-1024x712.png" class="size-medium wp-image-50512 alignleft" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;" src="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png3-300x208.png" alt="" width="300" height="208" srcset="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png3-300x208.png 300w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png3-1024x712.png 1024w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png3-768x534.png 768w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png3-1536x1067.png 1536w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png3-2048x1423.png 2048w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png3-266x185.png 266w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png3-1080x751.png 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="50510" data-permalink="https://icord.org/2022/05/trunkmuscle/png1/" data-orig-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png1.png" data-orig-size="2360,1640" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="battle rope" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png1-1024x712.png" class="size-medium wp-image-50510 aligncenter" src="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png1-300x208.png" alt="" width="300" height="208" srcset="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png1-300x208.png 300w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png1-1024x712.png 1024w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png1-768x534.png 768w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png1-1536x1067.png 1536w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png1-2048x1423.png 2048w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png1-266x185.png 266w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png1-1080x751.png 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> Limitations of this included its very small sample size. Although the movement patterns found in this study were fairly consistent, further research with a larger and more diverse sample is needed. Also, the participants in this study were new to boxing-based exercises; this is a possible limitation because training status and familiarity with the exercises might affect EMG and kinematic results. What were the results of this study? The main findings of this study were that: <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="50513" data-permalink="https://icord.org/2022/05/trunkmuscle/png4/" data-orig-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png4.png" data-orig-size="2360,1640" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="trunk curvature" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png4-1024x712.png" class=" wp-image-50513 alignright" src="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png4-300x208.png" alt="" width="339" height="235" srcset="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png4-300x208.png 300w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png4-1024x712.png 1024w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png4-768x534.png 768w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png4-1536x1067.png 1536w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png4-2048x1423.png 2048w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png4-266x185.png 266w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/png4-1080x751.png 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 339px) 100vw, 339px" />Seated boxing and battle rope exercises are able to activate trunk muscles, more so in people with motor-complete SCI (evidenced by higher EMG values) than in uninjured controls. People with motor-incomplete SCI had generally similar upper-body kinematics compared to controls, but showed reduced trunk rotation and increased trunk curvature. The increased trunk curvature might be a strategy for people with motor-complete SCI to maintain seated balance during these exercises. What does this mean for the SCI community? The trunk muscles are very important for supporting seated balance. People with motor-complete SCI are more likely to have weakened seated balance because trunk muscle function is more severely impaired after injury. One unique feature of the trunk muscles (compared to the arm/leg muscles) is that people with high-thoracic or cervical motor-complete SCI may retain some voluntary control over these muscles below the level of injury, despite their clinical diagnoses. This broadens the rehabilitation opportunities for people with motor-complete SCI. Activation of the trunk muscles during boxing-based exercises supports the development of such exercise interventions to train and improve seated balance for people with motor-complete SCI.
Autonomic nervous system in paralympic athletes following SCI
Lay summary by Dante Chiesa Edited by Crystal Han and Jocelyn Chan This is a lay summary of the paper by ICORDians Matthias Walter and Dr. Andrei Krassioukov. Read the original article here. The nervous system can be subdivided into Read More...
Lay summary by Dante Chiesa Edited by Crystal Han and Jocelyn Chan This is a lay summary of the paper by ICORDians Matthias Walter and Dr. Andrei Krassioukov. Read the original article here. The nervous system can be subdivided into the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain and the spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which includes all of the nerves that branch out from the brain and the spinal cord to the rest of the body. The peripheral nervous system can be further divided into sensory neurons, which relay sensation information to the CNS (such as temperature), and motor neurons, which relay motor commands away from the CNS (to move your hand). However, it is important to further break down the motor component of the PNS into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The somatic nervous system is responsible for the voluntary control of the body via skeletal muscles. The autonomic nervous system is responsible for involuntary physiological movement and processes such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and digestion. These involuntary processes are controlled in two distinct ways, first, through what we call the sympathetic component of the ANS, which stimulates the fight or flight response (ex. increases heart rate); parasympathetic, which stimulates the rest and digest response (ex. reduce heart rate and breathing). When individuals experience a spinal cord injury (SCI), it typically results in loss or impairment of sensorimotor function that presents as paralysis and reduced sensation in certain areas. However, individuals with SCI are susceptible to developing secondary complications related to the ANS. How was the study done? This study was done by investigating the various symptoms which present as a result of SCI. The study mainly focuses on physical presentations of symptoms correlated with SCI which could possibly impact the athletic capabilities of paralympic athletes. What is the purpose of the study? A dysfunctional ANS could impede the quality of life, and given the critical bodily functions it regulates, it is also very important for athletic performance. As the majority of people who have experienced an SCI plan to continue to exercise or engage in recreational para-sport, it is important to investigate the extent of the challenges they will face after an SCI. However, it is important to emphasize that the extent of the SCI (such as its location on the spinal cord) can lead to very different effects on the ANS and consequently athletic performance. This lay summary provides a general overview but for the various effects and specifics, please refer to the original article for further reading. What were the results of the study? One organ under significant control of the ANS is the heart. Through various nerve fibers, the ANS can influence heart rate, stroke volume (the amount of blood pumped in one contraction), and cardiac output (total amount of blood pumped in one minute). For example, when someone engages in strenuous exercise, we expect all of these factors to increase through sympathetic control by the ANS. Other aspects of the cardiovascular system are also impacted, including blood pressure. The study found that individuals who have experienced an SCI cannot manipulate these factors (heart rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output) as well as uninjured individuals are able to. Overall, these can contribute to the increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease in athletes with SCI compared to uninjured athletes. The study also looked at the respiratory system, which is the system responsible for providing our body with oxygen during athletic performance. Individuals living with a SCI experience respiratory dysfunction that arises from dysfunction of the respiratory muscles. This can present as shortness of breath, especially when engaging in strenuous exercise. The extent of respiratory dysfunction varies significantly depending on the extent of the SCI, however, regardless of the extent of the respiratory dysfunction, a decreased ability to increase breathing rate and oxygen supply to our muscles during strenuous exercise will inhibit athletic performance. Finally, the study also looked at thermoregulation. Thermoregulation is the mechanism by which we control our internal body temperature. As one engages in athletic activity, internal temperature attempts to rise significantly, hence, it is important for the body to thermoregulate effectively and maintain a suitable core temperature. This regulation is under the control of the thermoregulatory center in the brain. When an individual engages in strenuous exercise and internal body temperature increases, the thermoregulatory center will send a message to 2 important systems: (1) sweat glands, which release sweat and cool the skin as it evaporates, and (2) blood vessels, which widen in diameter and increases blood flow to areas near the skin where it is cooler. Individuals with an SCI face impairments in their ability to thermoregulate and can lose control over their sweat glands and blood vessels below the level of the SCI. This means, that the higher the level of injury on the spine, the more of the body is unable to effectively have any vascular or sweating control by the ANS, and the more severe the degree of impairment in thermoregulation. Hence, people living with SCI may have a more difficult time during exercise, as they can not thermoregulate as efficiently compared to uninjured athletes. What does this mean for the SCI community? Traditionally, researchers within the SCI community have focused on somatic nervous system impairments that result from SCI. However, as the field progresses and the profound impact on athletic performance from a loss of autonomic control becomes apparent, it is understandable why clinicians and scientists are increasing research into documenting autonomic function after SCI. For example, one way this novel research is being used is within major events such as the Paralympics where categorizing individuals based on their athletic inhibition is important. Having a greater understanding of how the loss of autonomic control affects athletic performance will aid in this categorization. Moreover, it is also vital for anyone who has experienced an SCI and is interested in taking part in physical activity post-injury. Being able to understand the body’s limits and where these limits are coming from is important, and even opens up the ability for the individual to explore the various treatments available. By product of this, increasing awareness of the autonomic problems that arise from SCI will drive solutions in the future.
Lay summary by Preshon Pillay Edited by Crystal Han This is the lay summary written on the paper by Mélissa Nadeau, Supriya Singh, Lise Belanger, Vanessa Noonan, Lynsey Hamilton, Dr. Michael Boyd, Nicolas Dea, Dr. Brian Kwon, Dr. Scott Paquette, Read More...
Lay summary by Preshon Pillay Edited by Crystal Han This is the lay summary written on the paper by Mélissa Nadeau, Supriya Singh, Lise Belanger, Vanessa Noonan, Lynsey Hamilton, Dr. Michael Boyd, Nicolas Dea, Dr. Brian Kwon, Dr. Scott Paquette, Dr. John Street, Dr. Marcel Dvorak, and Charles Fisher. Read the original article here. Individuals who have experienced a spinal cord injury (SCI) may have different severities of symptoms and outcomes. However, a shared experience amongst individuals who have experienced an SCI is receiving the news of their injury. This news is typically delivered to patients by their surgeon, and although these surgeons are well trained in evaluating and treating the spinal cord, they may lack the training in complex communication, such as delivering bad news. The purpose of this study was to understand the patient and family member perspective of receiving information on the severity and outcomes after sustaining a SCI. How was the study done? This was a qualitative study in which the research team interviewed fifteen individuals with SCI and eleven of their family members. Interviews were conducted with both the participants and family members together where possible. Each interview was recorded, and the researchers analyzed the specific words used in the interview as well as their underlying meaning. The results were grouped into major and minor findings. Demographic data was collected for the patients only, not the family members. Patients between 17-77 years of age (average of 42.6 year old), with 87% of patients being male. The interviews occurred between 1 and 2 years after the SCI was sustained. What were the results of this study? The results of this study can be divided into two major themes: Physician Demeanor (general approach and attitude towards the patient) and Delivery of Information (content, timing, and source of information). These major themes are further divided into minor themes which are explored below. Physician Demeanor Being Personable Participants in the study valued interactions from the physician that consisted of friendly demeanor, positive energy, and a sense of humour. Participants also felt a sense of comfort when healthcare providers took the time to get to know them personally. Participants felt the daily visits with physiotherapists and occupational therapists was sufficient, but would also appreciate visits from their surgeon. Maintaining Patient Dignity Participants voiced the need to be treated respectfully and as individual humans, rather than as disabled patients. Many participants shared concern over being treated differently after the SCI, but appreciated being treated with dignity. Delivery of Information Initial state of shock Participants reported understanding the severity of their injury as soon as it occurred, or soon after in the emergency department. When surgeons shared the severity again with them and the need for surgery, participants stated this was sufficient information, however they were not in a state to discuss specific details regarding diagnosis and prognosis. Stating the facts Basic terms and a description of the injury helped improve the understanding of diagnoses. Understanding the difficulty in predicting prognosis Most participants were aware that predicting their specific prognosis was difficult, but they preferred it when surgeons shared this view as a personal journey to recovery, rather than being uncertain and ambiguous. Balancing truth and hope This minor theme was one that was very patient-specific and required healthcare workers understanding their patients’ needs. In general, participants wanted surgeons to provide both realisms, while maintaining hope. Emphasizing short term goals By helping participants focus on short term goals and providing positive feedback when obtaining these goals, participants to maintain motivation throughout the duration of their treatments. However, it is important to emphasize that long-term prognosis and goals were still important, but at another time: long-term goals and prognoses were more appropriate during the rehabilitation phase. This flowchart from the paper summarizes the themes which are discussed in the results of the study. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="49664" data-permalink="https://icord.org/2022/05/patient-perspectives-on-sci/41393_2021_641_fig1_html/" data-orig-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/41393_2021_641_Fig1_HTML.webp" data-orig-size="1658,1041" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="41393_2021_641_Fig1_HTML" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/41393_2021_641_Fig1_HTML-1024x643.webp" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-49664" src="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/41393_2021_641_Fig1_HTML.webp" alt="" width="1658" height="1041" srcset="https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/41393_2021_641_Fig1_HTML.webp 1658w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/41393_2021_641_Fig1_HTML-300x188.webp 300w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/41393_2021_641_Fig1_HTML-1024x643.webp 1024w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/41393_2021_641_Fig1_HTML-768x482.webp 768w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/41393_2021_641_Fig1_HTML-1536x964.webp 1536w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/41393_2021_641_Fig1_HTML-266x167.webp 266w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/41393_2021_641_Fig1_HTML-400x250.webp 400w, https://icord.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/41393_2021_641_Fig1_HTML-1080x678.webp 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1658px) 100vw, 1658px" /> What does this mean for the SCI community? Although the focus of this study was to understand patient perspectives to help health care professionals with communicating diagnosis and prognosis of SCI to patients, it can also be helpful for patients who have experienced a SCI. Patients who have experienced an SCI can use the findings from this study to communicate with their health care providers and advocate for their own care and understanding. In knowing how others may have been treated in these situations, patients can feel more empowered to seek communication that is personable and meets their individual needs.
Peer mentorships and benefits for individuals with SCI
Lay summary by Jasleen Dhaliwal Edited by Crystal Han This is the lay summary on the original article by iCORDians Robert Shaw, Emily Giroux, Dr. Heather Gainforth, and Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis. Read the original article here. Why is this Read More...
Lay summary by Jasleen Dhaliwal Edited by Crystal Han This is the lay summary on the original article by iCORDians Robert Shaw, Emily Giroux, Dr. Heather Gainforth, and Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis. Read the original article here. Why is this study important? Individuals with SCI who are transitioning from a hospital setting to community living can face challenging circumstances, such as feeling overwhelmed and learning how to cope, all while dealing with physical impairment. The process as a whole can be overwhelming and complex. The implementation of peer mentorship can facilitate a smooth transition. Peer mentorship programs pair a mentor with a mentee based on their similarities and interests. Overall, the authors of this study believe that the process of peer mentorship can help individuals with SCI in overcoming and coping with certain challenges associated with SCI, such as reintegrating back into society. What is the purpose of the study? The purpose of this study was to understand how the relationship between a mentor and a mentee differ between telephone call and video conference interactions. The results of this study allowed the authors to deduce the optimal conditions to best form strong mentor and mentee relationships. How was the study conducted? Mentors and mentees either met with each other over video chat or had a telephone conversation. Individuals with SCI were the mentees, whereas others were mentors. Volunteer mentors were recruited from a non profit organization, SCI British Columbia (SCI BC). This organization provides peer mentoring services for individuals with SCI. What do these findings mean for people with SCI? There are two major findings of this paper: Removal of barriers for individuals with SCI: The relationships formed between mentors and mentees did not differ based on mode of contact. These findings mean that individuals with SCI are able to access the necessary help to overcome certain challenges in a remote setting. Moreover, a supportive mentor and mentee relationship can form even in situations where the two individuals are not able to see each other’s faces. In fact, it was found that the nature of the conversations and dynamic of the mentor mentee relationship did not differ by much between video chats and telephone calls. This finding removes the transportation and physical barrier that many individuals with SCI experience. This finding also removes technological barriers, given that individuals do not need access to a smartphone or laptop in order to video chat. Instead, it is sufficient to have access to a phone and the opportunity to form a meaningful and headful relationship is still available. Long lasting benefits for all: Overall, individuals with SCI have reported several long lasting benefits after participating in peer mentorship experiences, such as an increase in motivation and self efficacy. On the other hand, for mentees, this has translated to an improvement in health, self management, and a reduction in unplanned hospital visits. Essentially, the peer mentorship program positively impacts the well being of both the mentor and the mentee. Limitations of the study In this study, the mentor and mentee relationship was developed over telephone calls and video conferences. The setting of this study greatly reflects the restricted in-person contact due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, this study is limited in demonstrating the mentor-mentee relationship in a virtual setting. Furthermore, the authors are unable to make a comparison between a virtual and in-person mentor-mentee relationship. However, other published articles do conclude that there is no difference in the mode of delivery and impact on the mentee. What does this mean for the SCI community? For the SCI community, this means impacted individuals can access peer mentorship programs over the telephone. Above all, those who do not have access to a computer or internet still have access to the same resources as those who do.