Interventions that Effect Active Living among Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury.

Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) often engage in sedentary lifestyles that have the tendency to increase the onset of secondary health conditions. Advancements in medicine, assistive technology, and recreational therapy (RT) treatment provide opportunities for engagement in an active lifestyle, yet most individuals with SCI continue to be inactive. Various studies have examined active living with the general population, but very few have explored this concept among the SCI population. The purpose of this study was to determine if individuals with SCI who participate in a RT self-efficacy and self-affirmation based intervention increase active living. This single-subject multiple baseline study examined individuals with SCI participating in recreation activities with peers who had similar interests. Results demonstrated that participants increased active living when comparing intervention phase to baseline. Developing theoretically- based interventions that focus on recreation interests rather than disability type may play a role in decreasing sedentary lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]