Planning for a National Strategy to Coordinate Exercise and Therapy Programming for Persons with Spinal Cord Injury

The present proposal outlines a planning process to engage representative stakeholders in the development of a strategy to better coordinate health promoting activities associated with community and rehabilitation hospital programming directed toward both fitness and therapeutic outcomes for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). This process will result in proposals that focus on improving mobility and health (e.g., secondary complications associated with bone, muscle and skin) for this population all of which directly align with IMHA strategic priority areas. One of the key deliverables from this strategy will be to develop a proposal for the next CIHR SPOR innovative clinical trials funding competition or similar opportunities that provide mechanisms that support implementation and knowledge mobilization. This planning process will build on existing strengths within the SCI research and service communities by bringing together key constituents that work in the areas of health or physical activity across various organizations that represent persons with SCI or that impact community or rehabilitation hospital service provision. As well, key individuals (e.g., persons with SCI, clinicians, administrators and clinicians ) will contribute to the planning process with the intention of building a stronger network of organizations and individuals working to improve the lives of persons with SCI through enhancing and aligning physical activity and rehabilitation programming to increase participation with attendant functional and health benefits.