Evaluating the Effectiveness of an 8-week Intervention for Reducing Sedentary Time and Increasing Physical Activity Levels for People with Acquired Brain Injury

Abstract

Nova Scotia Health designed the Physical Activity After Acquired Brain Injury (PABI) program to improve the movement behaviours and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with acquired brain injury (ABI). It was hypothesized that the PABI program would decrease sedentary time and increase physical activity, standing time, and HRQoL. The intervention (n=9) and time-matched control group (n=9) wore an activPAL for 7-days during week 0 and 8. The intervention group attended 11 educational sessions and used PiezoRx pedometers to set weekly step goals. No differences in step counts (week 0: 5791±4101 vs. week 8: 5413±3055 steps/day, p=0.34, d=-0.08), standing time (4.5±2.6 vs. 4.3±2.2 hours/day, p=0.72, d=0.08), sedentary time (10.4±2.9 vs. 10.3±2.0 hours/day, p=0.85, d=0.05), or HRQoL (47±19 vs. 52±17, p=0.68, d=0.28) were observed for the intervention group across timepoints or groups. ABI rehabilitation programming should target initial reductions in sedentary time and gradually integrate physical activity when possible.