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The purpose of this study was to employ the theoretical domains framework (TDF) to identify behaviour change factors related to leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) in spinal cord injury (SCI) ambulators. A cross-sectional design was employed. Among 43 SCI ambulators, the TDF behaviour change factors were assessed, along with the duration, types, and intensities of LTPA performed over the previous week. The TDF behaviour change factors identified as barriers to LTPA included: knowledge, beliefs about capabilities, coping planning, and goal conflict. Approximately 71.81 mins/day (SD = 75.41) was spent doing LTPA. Participants reported aerobic and resistance training activities, along with several other types of LTPA (e.g., rock climbing). Coping planning, action planning, goal conflict, and skills explained significant variance in time spent on LTPA (R2adjusted = 0.259, p < 0.01), but only action planning uniquely predicted LTPA. Greater use of coping and action planning, lower levels of goal conflict and stronger skills were associated with greater participation in LTPA. These factors will be targeted for a future LTPA-enhancing intervention for SCI ambulators, informed by behaviour change theory. SCI ambulators participate in a surprisingly wide range of LTPA. Rehabilitation specialists can use this list to suggest activities for patients with SCI who ambulate. Barriers to leisure-time physical activity for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) who ambulate include lack of knowledge, weak beliefs about capabilities, lack of coping planning, and high goal conflict. Physical activity interventions for individuals with SCI who ambulate should include action and coping planning, goal conflict, and skills. Physical activity interventions should be created systematically using behaviour change theory and involvement of stakeholders throughout the development process. Practitioners can promote skills training in adapted activities like gardening, cycling, and rock-climbing for ambulators with SCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among people with physical disabilities, one of the most frequently-cited barriers to physical activity participation is a lack of basic information on what to do. Likewise, rehabilitation professionals often cite a lack of knowledge about what to recommend or prescribe, as their primary reason for not promoting physical activity to clients with disabilities. The development and implementation of disability-specific physical activity guidelines are important steps toward addressing informational barriers. This paper describes the reasoning behind disability-specific physical activity guidelines, the gold-standard process used to develop disability-specific guidelines for people with spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis, and the "who, what, and how" of behavioural interventions and messaging to support people with disabilities in achieving physical activity guidelines. Not Applicable. Not Applicable. The needs, values and preferences of people with disabilities must be taken into consideration when undertaking a disability-specific guideline development process. Guidelines can play an important role in physical activity promotion, but behavioural and other interventions are required to address the myriad physical activity barriers faced by people with disabilities. People with and without disabilities can achieve significant fitness and health benefits from activity well below the WHO's 150 minutes/week guideline. Disability-specific physical activity guidelines can alleviate informational barriers for people who want to get active and rehabilitation professionals who want to promote physical activity. Behavioural and other interventions are needed to support people's efforts to achieve physical activity guidelines. A physiotherapist-delivered intervention has shown promise for increasing physical activity in adults with a physical disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropathic pain is a debilitating consequence of spinal cord injury. Ecological momentary assessment can be a valuable research tool for understanding temporal fluctuations in neuropathic pain and designing effective management strategies. The objectives of this study were to (a) describe strategies necessary to adapt ecological momentary assessment to measure neuropathic pain in adults with spinal cord injury, and (b) explore participant perceptions of using ecological momentary assessment to measure pain sensations. End-users with spinal cord injury provided input to guide development of an ecological momentary assessment protocol. Six adults with spinal cord injury (ages 27–50 years, M = 39.33 ± 8.24) engaged in the six-day protocol and completed six daily neuropathic pain assessments. Upon finishing participants completed a semi-structured interview regarding their protocol experiences. A qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the interview data. Participants reported that this specific ecological momentary assessment protocol was unobtrusive to their daily routines, and effectively captured their neuropathic pain sensations. However, participants experienced increased neuropathic pain due to the repeated nature of assessments. Ecological momentary assessment can capture the dynamic nature of neuropathic pain experienced by persons with spinal cord injury. However, caution should be taken when designing intensive pain-related protocols to minimize pain exacerbation. Neuropathic pain affects up to 75% of people with spinal cord injury and is one of the most frequently occurring, debilitating forms of pain. Appropriate and feasible pain data collection methods are necessary to acquire a better understanding of how neuropathic pain manifests in people with spinal cord injury. Implementing ecological momentary assessment in a rehabilitation setting may help facilitate the monitoring of neuropathic pain for both rehabilitation professionals and persons with SCI. Using ecological momentary assessment may lead to a better understanding of individual temporal patterns of neuropathic pain that could inform the design of tailored neuropathic pain management techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]