Course Description:

Course Description:
BACKGROUND AND IDENTIFICATION OF PRACTICE PROBLEM: Spinal cord injuries (SCI) are disorders of the nervous system that typically involve the loss of motor and/or sensory function below the level of injury and can greatly impact an individual's ability to move and participate in meaningful activities. There are no current cures for SCI and, while cardiovascular and pulmonary disease continue to be major causes of death in those with chronic SCI, preventative strategies have been limited compared to able-bodied counterparts. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is a method of exercise that is often characterized by repeated short bursts of vigorous activity intermixed with periods of short, low intensity activity. Numerous health benefits have been studied regarding the use of HIIT in adult populations including improved exercise performance, cardiovascular adaptations, endurance capacity, and strength, offering HIIT as tool for reducing cardiovascular disease risk as well as a suitable choice for use by physical therapists in rehabilitation. Additionally, recent evidence has been supportive of both HIIT positively impacting neuroplasticity and the use of HIIT in physical therapy with individuals who have neurological conditions. Persons with SCI often have unique barriers to accessing and participating in safe exercise, which may limit the translation of HIIT to this population.