Leisure-Time Physical Activity Participation in Middle-Aged and Older Adults With a Spinal Cord Injury in Australia

• Published in: International journal of public health 2024-07, Vol.69, p.1607276
• Main Authors: Stendell, Laura, Stubbs, Peter W, Rogers, Kris, Verhagen, Arianne P, Middleton, James W, Davis, Glen M, Arora, Mohit, Marshall, Ruth, Geraghty, Timothy, Nunn, Andrew, Quel de Oliveira, Camila
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Australia; Exercise; Female; Humans; Leisure Activities; leisure-time physical activity; Male; Middle Aged; older adult; physical activity; Public Health Archive; Spinal Cord Injuries - epidemiology; spinal cord injury; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 1661-8564; 1661-8556; 1661-8564
• DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2024.1607276

Adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) are often sedentary, increasing their risk of cardiometabolic diseases. Leisure-time Physical Activity (LTPA) is physical activity completed during recreation time for enjoyment. We aimed to quantify LTPA in people ≥45 years with SCI and to explore its relationship with participants' characteristics. This is a secondary analysis on a subset of the Australian International SCI Survey in participants ≥45 years, at least 12 months post-injury. We described levels of LTPA and used multivariable regressions to estimate the associations between participant characteristics and LTPA. Of 1,281 participants (mean age: 62.7 years, mean time since injury: 18.7 years; 74% males) 44% reported no participation in LTPA. The average LTPA participation was 197 (SD 352) minutes per week (median: 50). Females (β = -62.3, 95% CI [-112.9, -11.7]), and participants with non-traumatic injuries (β = -105.2, 95% CI [-165.9, -44.6]) performed less LTPA. Time since injury was not associated with moderate-to-heavy LTPA (LR: Probability > F = 0.785). LTPA promotion in the SCI population ≥45 years focusing on females and non-traumatic injuries is warranted.