Developing a community-engaged wheelchair exercise program for persons with MS: community advisory board formation and feedback.
Stephanie L Silveira, Katherine Froehlich-Grobe, Robert W Motl
PMID 34892990WHAT IT FOUND
Wheelchair users with MS advised that exercise programs must offer flexible aerobic bouts, alternative resistance options like wrist weights, and clear guidance on handling setbacks.
They emphasized independence in equipment setup and requested coaching by clinicians or peers to support adherence.
Key findings
01Advisors requested flexibility in aerobic exercise duration, suggesting splitting 30-minute sessions into shorter bouts to accommodate fatigue and schedule constraints.
02Participants identified barriers to standard resistance training, prompting the addition of exercises that do not require lower-body function and alternative equipment like wrist weights.
03The advisory board stressed the importance of independent equipment setup and requested clinician-led or peer coaching to ensure safety and accountability.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The advisory board consisted of only 10 individuals, all from the United States, and drawn from a convenience sample of people already involved in research. Participants were not representative of the full spectrum of disability, as they were able to attend virtual meetings. No demographic data on education or employment was collected, limiting understanding of potential barriers related to literacy or resources. This study reports feedback on program design, not clinical outcomes; the program's effectiveness has not yet been tested.
Declared interests
The study was supported by non-U.S. government and NIH extramural grants. The authors declared no other conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this as evidence that the proposed exercise program improves health outcomes. This paper describes how the program was designed based on user feedback; the program's efficacy and feasibility have not yet been tested in a clinical trial.