Abstract
Recent development and dissemination of physical activity guidelines for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) has resulted in the need for resources to support the uptake and implementation of these guidelines. The current study used a systematic consultation process to develop evidence-informed recommendations for a SCI-specific physical activity toolkit. The Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation II protocol was used to develop a toolkit to teach adults with SCI how to make informed choices about being physically active. A multidisciplinary panel of leading researchers and community service providers in the area of physical activity, SCI, and knowledge translation appraised the evidence and generated specific recommendations for the content of the toolkit. Using an approach that combined the social engagement of experts with a systematic methodology, the following recommendations emerged: the toolkit's overarching message should be "Physical activity is easy and fun to do"; the toolkit should be a 4-page resource that contains links to more detailed information; the toolkit's content must include the physical activity guidelines for adults with SCI, suggested activities tailored to mode of mobility, strategies to overcome SCI-specific barriers to physical activity, detailed action planning examples, tips for safety, and evidence-based benefits of physical activity for persons with SCI. This consultation process has led to the development of the first-ever, evidence-based physical activity toolkit for adults with SCI. Next steps include pilot-testing, population-level dissemination, and translation of the toolkit into French.Acknowledgments: This project was funded by the Rick Hansen Institute and the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation