Presentation Title
Activities to Manage Bone Mineral Density in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury
Abstract
Individuals living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) are at risk of developing a multitude of secondary complications, including low bone mineral density (BMD) due to vascular and neurological changes, as well as reductions in mechanical stress to bone from the inability to walk or stand. As a result, people with SCI have almost twice the risk of developing a fragility fracture when compared to the general population. Fragility fractures can result in increased disability and mortality, thus decreasing quality of life and increasing healthcare costs. Barriers to activities that address bone health for people with SCI compound this issue and are not well understood. Additionally, there are no current clinical practice guidelines available for activities to prevent BMD loss. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to understand what current physical therapy recommendations are for improving BMD in patients with SCI, compared with what patients do once discharged and what barriers may impact adherence.
A literature search was conducted to understand the current clinical recommendations for BMD treatment for individuals living with a SCI using the following databases: OvidMEDLINE, CINAHL, PEDRO and Cochrane. After receiving UVM IRB approval, convenience sampling was used to distribute two REDCap surveys via email, one for physical therapists and one for individuals with SCI. The de-identified information was stored using REDCap and the results were tallied and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The data was then compared to the current recommendations for maintaining and improving BMD.
The study is currently ongoing and results will be analyzed in the coming months.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Michelle Yargeau PT, DPT, CWS
Secondary Mentor Name
Reuben Escorpizo PT, M.Sc., DPT,
Faculty/Staff Collaborators
Nancy Bianchi (Research and Education Librarian)
Status
Graduate
Student College
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Program/Major
Physical Therapy
Primary Research Category
Health Sciences
Activities to Manage Bone Mineral Density in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury
Individuals living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) are at risk of developing a multitude of secondary complications, including low bone mineral density (BMD) due to vascular and neurological changes, as well as reductions in mechanical stress to bone from the inability to walk or stand. As a result, people with SCI have almost twice the risk of developing a fragility fracture when compared to the general population. Fragility fractures can result in increased disability and mortality, thus decreasing quality of life and increasing healthcare costs. Barriers to activities that address bone health for people with SCI compound this issue and are not well understood. Additionally, there are no current clinical practice guidelines available for activities to prevent BMD loss. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to understand what current physical therapy recommendations are for improving BMD in patients with SCI, compared with what patients do once discharged and what barriers may impact adherence.
A literature search was conducted to understand the current clinical recommendations for BMD treatment for individuals living with a SCI using the following databases: OvidMEDLINE, CINAHL, PEDRO and Cochrane. After receiving UVM IRB approval, convenience sampling was used to distribute two REDCap surveys via email, one for physical therapists and one for individuals with SCI. The de-identified information was stored using REDCap and the results were tallied and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The data was then compared to the current recommendations for maintaining and improving BMD.
The study is currently ongoing and results will be analyzed in the coming months.