Home-Based Exercise Enhances Health-Related Quality of Life in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess the influence of a home-based exercise intervention on indices of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). DesignThis was a randomized controlled trial (HOMEX-SCI; ISRCTN57096451). After baseline laboratory testing and a week of free-living physical activity monitoring, eligible participants were randomly assigned (2:1 allocation ratio) to a home-based moderate-intensity upper-body exercise intervention group (INT, n=13), or a lifestyle maintenance control group (CON, n=8), for 6 weeks. SettingHome-based with short laboratory visits immediately before and after the intervention/control period. ParticipantsInactive participants (N=21) with chronic (>1yr) SCI (injury level <T4). InterventionParticipants assigned to the INT completed 4, 45-minute moderate-intensity (60%-65% peak oxygen uptake) arm-crank exercise sessions per week for 6 weeks. Participants assigned to the control group (CON) were asked to maintain their habitual physical activity behavior. Main Outcome MeasuresSecondary outcome measures were assessed, including physical and mental component scores (PCS and MCS) of health-related quality of life (HRQOL), fatigue, global fatigue (FSS), and shoulder pain index (WUSPI). Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), objectively measured habitual moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and exercise self-efficacy (ESE) were also assessed at baseline and follow-up. ResultsChanges in the PCS (P=.017) of the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), ESE (P=.011), and FSS (P=.036) were significantly different between the 2 groups, with moderate to large effect sizes (d=0.75-1.37). Various HRQOL outcomes demonstrated likely to very likely positive inferences in favor of the INT group following the 6-week exercise intervention. Changes in ESE were significantly (P<.01) associated with changes in PCS (r=0.62), MCS (r=0.71), FSS (r=-0.71), and global fatigue (r=0.57). ConclusionsA 6-week upper-body exercise intervention improved indices of HRQOL in persons with SCI. Improvements were associated with increases in ESE. While this intervention demonstrated a positive effect on perceived physical functioning, future interventions should aim to support social and mental functioning and exercise maintenance.