December 2, 2020

The 2010 census estimated that 3.6 million Americans use a wheeled mobility device, such as a manual wheelchair, motorized wheelchair, or scooter. Individuals who use wheeled mobility devices often experience poorer health outcomes compared to the general population, and may encounter barriers to accessing preventive health care and getting sufficient physical activity.

Physical activity is likely to have wide-ranging impacts on the overall health of people who use wheeled mobility devices and may improve their workforce participation, independence, and quality of life. However, gaps exist in the literature on what types and amounts of exercise are safe and effective.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is hosting the Pathways to Prevention Workshop: Can Physical Activity Improve the Health of Wheelchair Users? to assess the available scientific evidence through a systematic evidence review, invite speakers to present their research, and engage with a community of wheeled mobility device users to better understand the potential benefits of physical activity interventions for people at risk of using, or currently using, wheeled mobility devices as a result of a disabling injury or illness.

The workshop will also address the following questions:

What is the evidence base on physical activity interventions to prevent obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions, including evidence on harms of the interventions in people who are at risk for or currently using a wheeled mobility device?

What are the benefits and harms of physical activity interventions for people who are at risk for or currently using a wheeled mobility device?

What are the patient factors that may affect the benefits and harms of physical activity in patients who are at risk for or currently using a wheeled mobility device?

What are methodological weaknesses or gaps that exist in the evidence to determine benefits and harms of physical activity in patients who are at risk for or currently using a wheeled mobility device?

The workshop is co-sponsored by:

National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
NIH Office of Disease Prevention

For more information go to https://prevention.nih.gov/research-priorities/research-needs-and-gaps/pathways-prevention/can-physical-activity-improve-health-wheelchair-users