Wearable-Enhanced mHealth Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Manual Wheelchair Users: Single-Group Pre-Post Feasibility Study
Abstract BackgroundWith the rapid advancement of technology, using wearable devices and mobile health (mHealth) apps to monitor and promote physical activity (PA) has become increasingly popular among individuals with various chronic conditions. However, such work remains limi...
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JMIR Publications
2025-06-01
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| Series: | JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies |
| Online Access: | https://rehab.jmir.org/2025/1/e70063 |
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| author | Zijian Huang Dan McCoy Rosemarie Cooper Theresa M Crytzer Yueyang Chi Dan Ding |
| author_facet | Zijian Huang Dan McCoy Rosemarie Cooper Theresa M Crytzer Yueyang Chi Dan Ding |
| author_sort | Zijian Huang |
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Abstract
BackgroundWith the rapid advancement of technology, using wearable devices and mobile health (mHealth) apps to monitor and promote physical activity (PA) has become increasingly popular among individuals with various chronic conditions. However, such work remains limited among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), especially those who use a manual wheelchair for mobility.
ObjectivesThe study aims to describe the development of the WheelFit mHealth app for monitoring and promoting PA in manual wheelchair users (MWUs) with SCI and evaluate its feasibility and usability in free-living conditions.
MethodsThe WheelFit app, based on the Fogg Behavioral Model with inputs from stakeholders, including MWUs, physical therapists, and personal trainers, was developed to promote PA in MWUs. It works with two commercial wearable devices, that is, an Android smartwatch and a wheel sensor, which stream users’ upper extremity and wheelchair movement to the app to calculate PA variables using custom algorithms. Users can set personal goals, review daily progress and PA history, and access an adaptive workout library within the app. A 4-week single-group pre-post study, consisting of a 1-week baseline and 3-week intervention phase, was conducted to evaluate WheelFit’s feasibility and usability. Feasibility was evaluated using the session attendance rate, device and app usage, and implementation of action plans. Usability was assessed using the system usability scale. The preliminary effectiveness was assessed by comparing preintervention and postintervention PA variables and scores from the SCI exercise self-efficacy scale.
ResultsA total of 16 participants completed the study protocol with 100% session attendance and maintained 14.2 hours of daily device and app connection. Participants demonstrated varying levels of adherence to their action plans. The excellent usability of WheelFit was indicated by an average system usability scale score of 81.8 (SD 19.2) points. Statistically significant increases between pre-post daily exercise times (preintervention: mean 26.4, SD 16.9 minutes; postintervention: mean 33.3, SD 24.9 minutes; PP
ConclusionsThe WheelFit app demonstrated promising feasibility, usability, and a positive impact on promoting PA in MWUs with SCI. Future investigation exploring the potential integration of the WheelFit app into clinical practice is warranted. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4856bfe6c8a8416b8c9e7989e8936f5b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2369-2529 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies |
| spelling | doaj-art-4856bfe6c8a8416b8c9e7989e8936f5b2025-08-20T03:25:33ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies2369-25292025-06-0112e70063e7006310.2196/70063Wearable-Enhanced mHealth Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Manual Wheelchair Users: Single-Group Pre-Post Feasibility StudyZijian Huanghttp://orcid.org/0009-0004-1731-8186Dan McCoyhttp://orcid.org/0009-0006-0296-7129Rosemarie Cooperhttp://orcid.org/0009-0005-4649-8910Theresa M Crytzerhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-5470-6354Yueyang Chihttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-8466-0011Dan Dinghttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-7044-7770 Abstract BackgroundWith the rapid advancement of technology, using wearable devices and mobile health (mHealth) apps to monitor and promote physical activity (PA) has become increasingly popular among individuals with various chronic conditions. However, such work remains limited among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), especially those who use a manual wheelchair for mobility. ObjectivesThe study aims to describe the development of the WheelFit mHealth app for monitoring and promoting PA in manual wheelchair users (MWUs) with SCI and evaluate its feasibility and usability in free-living conditions. MethodsThe WheelFit app, based on the Fogg Behavioral Model with inputs from stakeholders, including MWUs, physical therapists, and personal trainers, was developed to promote PA in MWUs. It works with two commercial wearable devices, that is, an Android smartwatch and a wheel sensor, which stream users’ upper extremity and wheelchair movement to the app to calculate PA variables using custom algorithms. Users can set personal goals, review daily progress and PA history, and access an adaptive workout library within the app. A 4-week single-group pre-post study, consisting of a 1-week baseline and 3-week intervention phase, was conducted to evaluate WheelFit’s feasibility and usability. Feasibility was evaluated using the session attendance rate, device and app usage, and implementation of action plans. Usability was assessed using the system usability scale. The preliminary effectiveness was assessed by comparing preintervention and postintervention PA variables and scores from the SCI exercise self-efficacy scale. ResultsA total of 16 participants completed the study protocol with 100% session attendance and maintained 14.2 hours of daily device and app connection. Participants demonstrated varying levels of adherence to their action plans. The excellent usability of WheelFit was indicated by an average system usability scale score of 81.8 (SD 19.2) points. Statistically significant increases between pre-post daily exercise times (preintervention: mean 26.4, SD 16.9 minutes; postintervention: mean 33.3, SD 24.9 minutes; PP ConclusionsThe WheelFit app demonstrated promising feasibility, usability, and a positive impact on promoting PA in MWUs with SCI. Future investigation exploring the potential integration of the WheelFit app into clinical practice is warranted.https://rehab.jmir.org/2025/1/e70063 |
| spellingShingle | Zijian Huang Dan McCoy Rosemarie Cooper Theresa M Crytzer Yueyang Chi Dan Ding Wearable-Enhanced mHealth Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Manual Wheelchair Users: Single-Group Pre-Post Feasibility Study JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies |
| title | Wearable-Enhanced mHealth Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Manual Wheelchair Users: Single-Group Pre-Post Feasibility Study |
| title_full | Wearable-Enhanced mHealth Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Manual Wheelchair Users: Single-Group Pre-Post Feasibility Study |
| title_fullStr | Wearable-Enhanced mHealth Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Manual Wheelchair Users: Single-Group Pre-Post Feasibility Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Wearable-Enhanced mHealth Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Manual Wheelchair Users: Single-Group Pre-Post Feasibility Study |
| title_short | Wearable-Enhanced mHealth Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Manual Wheelchair Users: Single-Group Pre-Post Feasibility Study |
| title_sort | wearable enhanced mhealth intervention to promote physical activity in manual wheelchair users single group pre post feasibility study |
| url | https://rehab.jmir.org/2025/1/e70063 |
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