Physical activity of community-dwelling adults with traumatic spinal cord injuries in the Cape Metropole
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Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS Publishing
Abstract
In developing countries, spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are currently a public health concern (Jesuyajolu et al. 2023). In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that over 15 million people currently live with an SCI worldwide (WHO 2024). In South Africa, the incidence rate for traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) was estimated at 76 per million people, which was found to be one of the highest when compared to developed, Western countries (Joseph et al. 2015). Globally, adults with SCIs often lead very sedentary lifestyles, and this predisposes them to develop secondary complications and puts them at an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes and obesity (Cragg et al. 2013; Garcίa Massó, Serra-Añó & Gonzalez 2015; Nooijen et al. 2015; Warms, Whitney & Belza 2008). In the previous literature, it was noticed that there is a 17% prevalence of CVD among the SCI population compared to a 5% prevalence among the non-SCI population (Cragg et al. 2013). Physical activity (PA), however, is an important modifiable factor in decreasing the risks of CVD, stroke and diabetes (Cragg et al. 2013; Garcίa-Massó et al. 2015; Nooijen et al. 2015; Warms et al. 2008)
Description
Keywords
traumatic spinal cord injuries, community-dwelling, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, Western Cape
Citation
Gabriels, A., Ismail, T., Bezuidenhout, L. & Joseph, C., 2025, ‘Physical activity of community-dwelling adults with traumatic spinal cord injuries in the Cape Metropole’, South African Journal of Physiotherapy 81(1), a2147. https://doi.org/ 10.4102/sajp.v81i1.2147