• P J Manns and K E Chad.
• College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
• Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1999 Dec 1; 80 (12): 1566-71.

ObjectiveDetermining relationships among fitness, physical activity, subjective quality of life, and handicap in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).DesignCross-sectional exploratory study.SettingUniversity research laboratory setting.ParticipantsTwenty-eight men and 10 women (age 35.9+/-9.3 yrs) with SCI (17 quadriplegic, 21 paraplegic).Main Outcome MeasuresFitness (maximal incremental exercise test on arm ergometer), physical activity (leisure time exercise questionnaire), subjective quality of life (Quality of Life Profile: Physical and Sensory Disabilities Version), and level of handicap (Craig Handicap Assessment Reporting Technique). Correlational analyses examined relationships between the measures.ResultsPhysical activity was correlated with composite handicap score in quadriplegic and paraplegic persons. Handicap domain scores for physical independence, mobility, and occupation were correlated with physical activity in quadriplegic persons. There was no relation between the subjective quality of life scores and fitness and physical activity in either group.ConclusionsPhysical activity may play an important role in handicap for persons with SCI, particularly persons with quadriplegic injuries. The lack of a relation between activity variables and subjective quality of life may be related to the global nature of the measure used.

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