Kathleen Martin Ginis speaks with incredible passion as she discusses the growing impact of research on spinal cord injuries.
Kathleen Martin Ginis
Affecting more than 85,000 Canadians, spinal cord injury (SCI) has been classified as one of the greatest survivable catastrophes experienced by a human. Although spinal damage is often irreversible, new research breakthroughs are helping to minimize disability after SCI and improve quality of life for those affected.
Led by Martin Ginis, a professor with the Faculty of Medicine and UBC Okanagan’s School of Health and Exercise Sciences, a team of researchers are devoted to improving the health and well-being of people with SCI.
“We are in the position to make a real difference,” she says, adding that many have been injured in the prime of their lives.
“A spinal cord injury can happen in the blink of an eye. Falls and motor vehicle accidents are the leading causes in Canada, but an increasing number of cases are the result of non-traumatic causes such as cancer and stroke. Regardless of the cause, a SCI can have a life-long impact.”
Physical activity is a game changer—it improves people’s outlook and abilities.
Kathleen Martin Ginis
Reichwald Family UBC Southern Medical Program Chair in Preventive Medicine and Director, Chronic Disease Prevention Program
Martin Ginis is the founding director of SCI Action Canada, a national alliance of organizations and researchers working to improve physical activity in people with spinal cord injury.
Her research studies are some of the first to highlight the benefits and strategies of getting people with SCI involved in exercise and sport.
“Individuals with SCI are not only faced with physical challenges, they may also struggle with social and psychological issues,” says Martin Ginis, who is also Reichwald Family UBC Southern Medical Program Chair in Preventive Medicine and director of the Chronic Disease Prevention Program.
“Physical activity is a game changer—it improves people’s outlook and abilities.”
For many individuals with SCI, Martin Ginis says it’s not about regaining what they’ve lost but maximizing what they have. Deconditioned muscles can be strengthened and chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes can be mitigated by physical activity.
She recently worked with an international committee to develop the first evidence-based exercise recommendations specifically for the SCI population.
Martin Ginis says this precision is necessary to prevent cardiometabolic illnesses. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in adults with SCI, who are also at increased risk for obesity and diabetes relative to the general population.
“We can now say that our guidelines—prescribing a tailored dose of exercise—are safe and will have significant fitness and cardiometabolic health benefits for adults with spinal cord injuries.”
She also emphasizes the importance of community in undertaking this work.
“When we first saw the positive impact of physical activity in our small lab, I wanted to be able to share this with the whole SCI community.”
That goal is in motion thanks to ongoing support and collaboration with partners such as legendary Canadian Paralympian and philanthropist Rick Hansen.
“By applying these guidelines, people with SCI can expect to reach closer to normal health outcomes and lead full and meaningful lives. I am very proud of the work produced by Dr. Martin Ginis and her dedicated teams,” says Hansen.
“With respect to physical exercise,” Martin Ginis says, “the community-engaged research we are doing is setting us apart from what others are doing in this area. It’s an exciting time.”
“We can see the impact of our work. Improved fitness can mean the difference between needing a caregiver to tuck you in at night and being able to independently take care of yourself.”
To learn more about the research being undertaken by Dr. Martin Ginis’ students, read the full version of this story on the UBC Okanagan website.