ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To examine the feasibility and acceptability of a 6-week peer-based walking intervention for adults with moderate-to-severe TBI with telehealth supports. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pre-post feasibility trial with 18 community-dwelling adults (10 men; 8 women) with moderate-to-severe TBI aged 21-61 years (M = 40.6, SD = 11.3). Feasibility outcomes included participation, attrition, safety across 12 90-minute sessions, and telehealth platform quality. Acceptability outcomes included program satisfaction. Exploratory outcomes included daily step count with activity trackers and pre-post intervention questionnaires (mood, leisure satisfaction, exercise self-efficacy, quality of life) through video conferencing. RESULTS: 15/18 (83%) participants completed ≥ 9 sessions (75%). Three participants were lost to attrition. No major adverse events reported. Minor events included fatigue and muscle soreness. Participants reported high satisfaction (M = 9.2/10, SD = 0.9). Average weekly steps per day rose from 10,011 to 11,177 steps (12%). Three participants' step count data were not included due to tremors or forgetting to wear the device (≥ 9 days). One major and several minor connectivity problems occurred. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks tests identified a significant change in negative affect (p < 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the feasibility and acceptability of a 6-week peer-based walking intervention with telehealth supports for our sample.
It was feasible and acceptable for our sample of adults with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) to engage in a peer-based walking program during unforeseen circumstances.A peer-based walking group program may be a method of promoting health-related outcomes and physical activity for adults with moderate-to-severe TBI.Telehealth supports may be used to adapt a fitness center-based physical activity program for adults with TBI to an outdoor community context.