WashU and Paraquad in St. Louis Begin WATCH Research Study
Washington University (WashU) and Paraquad in St. Louis recently began studying the cardiovascular health of wheelchair users after incorporating adaptive gym equipment into their routines. The project, titled “Wheelchair User Physical Activity Training Intervention to Enhance Cardiometabolic Health “(WATCH),” is funded through a grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Principal Investigator Kerri Morgan, Ph.D., OTR/L, and her team officially began interventions in September 2023 — we invite you to read on to discover more about the project and how you can participate.
The Impact of Adaptive Gym Equipment
People who use wheelchairs are at greater risk for chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity due to lower levels of physical activity. Regular exercise at an adaptive community gym may be the safest way to prevent and reverse these harmful conditions.
WashU and Paraquad in St. Louis aim to develop, adapt and test physical activity interventions for individuals who use wheelchairs due to a physical disability. The WATCH study will use Stephen A. Orthwein Center's adaptive gym equipment to track cardiometabolic effects after tailored workout regimes versus independent access to a community-based gym.
Researchers have three primary goals, including:
Comparing the effectiveness of two different workout routines on overall health.
Identifying barriers and facilitators to engaging in physical activity at an accessible gym.
Examining the mediators and moderators of the expected intervention effect.
The Research Process
The unique element of the study is that it is general to wheelchair users. Similar studies typically focus on a specific diagnosis — meaning there is a long list of criteria to check off before you are eligible to participate, and the results cannot be generalized to a greater population.
The WATCH study is open to all wheelchair users, including people who use a manual wheelchair, scooter, powerchair or even an ambulatory wheelchair. However, they must not be participating in moderate intensity exercise regularly and have no ongoing health concerns. To verify this, all participants will need a medical release from their physician beforehand.
Once accepted into the study, investigators will randomly assign participants to one of two exercise groups. One group will receive intensity-controlled physical activity training (IPAT) — a workout regime tailored to personal needs with assistance from Paraquad trainers in St. Louis. The other group will receive education and independent access to the Orthwein Center’s adaptive gym equipment.
Each individual will participate in the study for a 14-week period, during which they will receive a free membership to the Orthwein Center. Over the course of the project, participants will be periodically examined and questioned to track improvements in overall health.
Join the WATCH Study
The WATCH study is open to members of the Orthwein Center and members of the general public. Recruitment efforts will continue over the next four years, meaning there is plenty of time to join the study yourself. Whether you were born with a disability or recently acquired one through an injury, we welcome you to improve your health through adaptive gym equipment at the Orthwein Center.
If you or someone you know may be interested in joining WashU and Paraquad’s study in St. Louis, contact Research Coordinator Kim Walker at (314) 273-7010 or walker.k@wustl.edu.
