Physical activity programs for cardiovascular outcomes in community wheelchair users: A systematic review.
Mudasir Saleem Andrabi, Mercy Mumba, Betty Key and 1 others
PMID 36407966WHAT IT FOUND
Community-based physical activity programs for wheelchair users show inconsistent results.
While some interventions improved activity levels or self-efficacy, cardiovascular outcomes rarely changed significantly. The evidence is weak due to small sample sizes and varied methods, so no single program is proven effective.
Key findings
01Most studies reported improvements in physical activity levels, but cardiovascular outcomes showed improvements in only three studies.
02The review found low level of evidence due to small sample sizes and inconsistencies in how physical activity was measured.
03Interventions varied widely in type, dose, and delivery method, making it difficult to compare their effectiveness.
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 review included studies with small sample sizes, which reduces the certainty of the findings. Physical activity was measured inconsistently across studies, making it hard to compare results. Many studies had no long-term follow-up, so it is unclear if benefits last. The search was limited to English-language articles published between 2015 and 2020, potentially missing other relevant studies. Interventions varied widely in type, dose, and delivery, preventing a clear conclusion about which specific components are effective.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that participating in any community-based physical activity program will significantly improve cardiovascular health in wheelchair users. The review found that only three studies reported improvements in cardiovascular outcomes, and the overall evidence level is low due to small sample sizes and inconsistent methods.