The mobile app SCI-Ex, borne via a collaboration between clinicians at Shepherd Center and app developer MobileSmith, aims to promote exercise and fitness among people living with a spinal cord injury (SCI).
The app, which is available for both Apple and Android devices, is designed to help patients choose appropriate exercises for their injury level, set and track fitness goals, and save information regarding their fitness routine.
It features exercises for people with an SCI between C-3 and T-12 in four categories: strength training, cardiovascular, flexibility/balance, and neuromuscular.
In addition, the app features video demonstrations and descriptions of proper equipment use, accurate transfer methods, and adaptive exercise techniques, according to a media release from Shepherd Center, based in Atlanta.
“Individuals who will benefit from the SCI-Ex app are those with spinal cord injury, family members, caregivers, exercise professionals and clinicians who are not familiar with spinal cord injuries,” says Rebecca Washburn, manager of Shepherd Center’s Beyond Therapy and wellness programs, in the release. “It will promote education about SCI health and wellness for individuals and wellness center professionals.”
Brandon Clift, a lead exercise specialist at Shepherd Center, adds that, “This app can be a great resource for individuals to become more knowledgeable and independent with developing an exercise routine in community gym settings and also aid fitness professionals and/or caregivers on how to properly assist with various types of exercises outside of a typical SCI rehab setting.”
Funding from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation and the Shepherd Center Foundation aided the development of the app, which in its current form is a pilot project designed to obtain user feedback on an initial set of exercise videos produced by Brothers Young Productions. According to Shepherd Center, it plans to expand the app’s content in future versions as more funding becomes available.
[Source: Shepherd Center]
