ActivwalkS^ci-2.0

Knowledge about exercise behaviour in people with spinal cord injury who are able to walk is limited. Recent research by Rijndam and Erasmus MC suggests that part of this group has a strongly unfavourable exercise behaviour in the year after clinical rehabilitation. This has consequences for functioning and health. We expect that the energetic load of walking plays an important role in exercise behaviour. This may be a starting point for rehabilitation treatment to improve walking behaviour. However, nothing is known about the relationship between the energy load of walking and exercise behaviour in people with spinal cord injury. The primary goal of this study is to determine whether the energetic load of walking is actually an important determinant of exercise behaviour in people with a chronic spinal cord injury who can walk. Secondly, we will gain insight into other determinants of movement in the chronic phase, the load in daily life and the level of fitness. Therefore, one-time measurements will be taken from 80 people with spinal cord injury, both in the clinical setting, the exercise laboratory, and in the home situation. In addition, questionnaires will be used. Energetic load of walking will be determined by comparing the oxygen intake during walking with the maximum oxygen intake; the movement behaviour will be measured with an activity monitor.