The impact of mHealth on physical activity in wheelchair users: A scoping review

Wheelchair users (WCUs) encounter numerous barriers to engaging in physical activity (PA), resulting in elevated risks for chronic health conditions associated with inactivity. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies offer a promising avenue to support PA engagement by enhancing accessibility, motivation, and independence.

This scoping review aims to examine the current evidence on the effectiveness of mHealth interventions in promoting PA among WCUs to identify gaps in the literature to inform future research and development.

A total of eleven studies were included, encompassing a range of mHealth tools such as mobile applications, telehealth platforms, and wearable devices. Studies were analyzed for intervention features and outcomes related to PA.

Findings indicate that mHealth interventions can enhance PA behaviors in WCUs, particularly when incorporating features such as real-time feedback, gamification, and personalized goal setting. Approximately 64% of the studies reported improvements in PA outcomes. However, only two of the articles demonstrated significant changes, potentially attributed to small sample sizes and the nature of the studies.

Overall, mHealth holds promise as a tool to reduce health disparities in WCUs by improving access to and motivation for PA. However, the current evidence base is limited and heterogeneous. Future research should prioritize the personalization and motivational factors of mHealth tools to better address the unique needs of this population.