Effect of Exercise on Mental Health and Health-related Quality of Life in Adults With Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Objectives

To determine the effect of exercise interventions on mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in individuals with SCI.

Data Sources

We searched Embase, CINAHL, Medline, PsychINFO, and SPORTDiscus from inception to September 2023.

Study Selection

We included randomized controlled trials that (1) involved participants ≥18 years old with a SCI; (2) administered an exercise intervention; and (3) measured subjective well-being, psychological well-being, social well-being, and/or HRQoL as outcomes. We reported standardized means differences (d) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), assessed the risk of bias by using the Revised Cochrane Risk-of-bias Tool for Randomized Trials (RoB 2), and the certainty of the evidence using GRADE.

Data Synthesis

Nineteen studies (797 participants, mean age <65 years in every study) were included. Exercise improved overall well-being (d=0.494; 95% CI 0.268, 0.720; low certainty evidence), subjective well-being (d=0.543; 95% CI 0.270, 0.816; low certainty evidence), psychological well-being (d=0.499; 95% CI 0.193, 0.805; low certainty evidence), social well-being (d=0.452; 95% CI 0.151, 0.752; low certainty evidence), and HRQoL (d=0.323; 95% CI 0.072, 0.574; low certainty evidence). Four serious adverse events probably attributable to the interventions were reported in 3 studies.

Conclusions

Exercise interventions can improve well-being and HRQoL in adults with SCI <65 years of age. Additional research is needed to determine effectiveness in adults ≥65 years of age.