Are mental health and somatic symptom severity associated with reduced physical activity among US Iraq and Afghanistan veterans?
Overall, physical activity engagement among Iraq/Afghanistan veteran VA patients was above the level specified in national recommendations. Those with higher depressive and somatic symptoms were less likely to meet physical activity recommendations and may benefit from targeted physical activity promotion interventions.
In order to meet the needs of a growing population of persons living in the community with spinal cord injury, more beds are required in spinal units. Provision of day surgery wards within spinal units, out-reach clinics and home visits by spinal cord clinicians may reduce the demand for admission in a spinal unit. Education of community health professionals on delayed complications of spinal cord injury, and good communication between spinal cord clinicians, patients, carers, and community health professionals by telephone, e-mail or conventional postal system are likely to improve the care of spinal cord injury patients after discharge from spinal injury centres. Spinal cord clinicians should adopt a patient-centred care instead of the traditional, paternalistic, doctor-centred care.