Objective assessment of mobility of the spinal cord injured in a free-living environment

Abstract

Study design: An exploratory study of the practicality and feasibility of an instrument. Objectives: To adapt an activity monitor for use on a wheelchair to assess long-term mobility in a free-living environment in the spinal cord injury (SCI) population, and to explore the utility of the data collected. Setting: Glasgow, UK. Methods: An activity monitor was adapted for use on a wheelchair wheel. The monitor was used to assess, for 1 week, the wheelchair mobility of seven participants with SCI who only used a wheelchair. In conjunction with a second monitor on the thigh the mobility of seven participants with SCI who used a wheelchair and upright mobility, and five healthy non-wheelchair users, were assessed for 1 day. Results: The adapted monitor collected 1260 h of data and was suitable for use on both manual and electric wheelchairs. During 1 week, participants with SCI who only used a wheelchair spent between 4 and 13 h moving in the wheelchair, covering a distance of between 7 and 28 km. Distinct differences in mobility were shown between participants with an SCI and non-wheelchair users. The differences in time spent in mobility activities between the groups of participants with SCI were smaller. Conclusions: The system was successfully used in this group of participants with SCI, and could provide useful information on the mobility of people with SCI in a free-living environment. © 2008 International Spinal Cord Society All rights reserved.