Status: Recruiting (recruitment closes October 2024)
For people with a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) it is important to be physically activity after discharge home to maximise functional ability and health. It is known that after discharge home from the rehabilitation unit, people with a SCI have significantly lower levels of physical activity when compared to other chronic diseases. It is understood that by engaging in physical activity early after a SCI you are more likely to continue to be physically active in the long term. However, there is a lack of support to maintain physical activity after discharge with a lack of resources in usual NHS care and within the 3rd sector. Telerehabilitation, or online rehabilitation provides a valuable alternative to traditional face to face physiotherapy. Therefore, this feasibility cohort study will explore the feasibility and effectiveness of a 12- week online rehabilitation programme in people with SCI patient during the transition from hospital to home.
Participants will be recruited from the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit prior to discharge into the community. Following written informed consent, participants will be provided with an individually prescribed online rehabilitation programme, using www.giraffehealth.com. Once discharged, participants will be asked to exercise using their online 'Giraffe' programme twice a week for 12 weeks. Programmes will be individually tailored and progressed over the 12 weeks to support participants to achieve their goals, improve their mobility, function, independence, exercise tolerance and strength. The primary outcome measure will be feasibility, measuring adherence, acceptability (qualitative interviews) and participant eligibility, recruitment rate and retention. Secondary outcome measure will include functional capacity, physical activity and quality of life. Outcome measures will be collected at baseline, 2 weeks post-discharge, 6 weeks post-discharge (mid-way), and 12 weeks post discharge (post-intervention).
