Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37204855›Full record

ArticleJMIR research protocols2023

Feasibility, Usability, and Safety of ParaGym, an Intelligent Mobile Exercise App for Individuals With Paraplegia: Protocol for a Pilot Block-Randomized Controlled Trial.

Janika Bolz, Adrian Löscher, Rainer Muhl, Andreas Badke, Hans-Georg Predel, Claudio Perret

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR research protocols, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.5field-weighted citation impact, top 33% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Janika BolzInstitute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9879-239X
Adrian LöscherInstitute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9476-8904
Rainer MuhlBG Clinic Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4513-7118
Andreas BadkeBG Clinic Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0577-2248
Hans-Georg PredelInstitute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6643-4464
Claudio PerretSwiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3953-589X
German Sport University Cologne · DEBG Klinik Tübingen · DEUniversity of Lucerne · CH

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundExercise is crucial for individuals with paraplegia to reduce the risk of secondary diseases and improve independence and quality of life. However, numerous barriers such as inadequate accessibility restrict their participation in exercise programs. Digital exercise apps can help overcome these barriers. Personalization is considered a crucial feature of mobile exercise apps, as people with paraplegia have individual requirements regarding exercise programs depending on their level of impairment. Despite the increasing popularity of mobile exercise apps, there are none available that target the individual needs of this cohort. The ParaGym mobile exercise app prototype was designed to automatically tailor exercise sessions to the individual needs of users with paraplegia.

objectiveThis study aims to evaluate the feasibility, usability, safety, and preliminary effectiveness of the ParaGym mobile exercise app prototype.

methodsThis pilot block-randomized controlled feasibility trial will include 45 adult participants with paraplegia. Eligible participants will be block randomized to either the intervention or waitlist control group. The intervention group will perform a 6-week exercise program using the ParaGym mobile exercise app, comprising three 35-minute exercise sessions per week. The waitlist control group will continue their usual care and receive access to the app after study completion. Participants will record all exercise sessions conducted with the app as well as additional exercise sessions conducted during the study period using exercise diaries. The primary outcomes include feasibility, usability, and safety. Feasibility will be assessed through semistructured interviews, study adherence, and retention rates. Usability will be measured using the System Usability Scale. Safety will be determined by the occurrence of adverse events. Secondary outcomes include the effects of the intervention on peak exercise capacity (VO

resultsRecruitment commenced in November 2022. Overall, 12 participants were enrolled at the time of submission. Data collection commenced in January 2023, with completion expected in April 2023.

conclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the feasibility, usability, and safety of an intelligent mobile exercise app for individuals with paraplegia. Thereafter, the app should be adapted according to the findings of this trial. Future trials with an updated version of the app should aim for a larger sample size, longer intervention duration, and more diverse target group. In the long term, a fully marketable version of the ParaGym app should be implemented. This would increase the access to personalized, independent, and evidence-based exercise training for this cohort and, in the future, other people who use wheelchairs.

trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register DRKS00030370; https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00030370. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/45652.

Indexed as

algorithmdigitalexercisefitnesshome-basedmixed methodsmobile appmobile phonepersonalizationprototypespinal cord injurytelemedicine

Identifiers

PMID37204855
PMCPMC10238958
OpenAlexW4377094567

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.