Physical Environmental Barriers to Community Mobility in Older and Younger Wheelchair Users

The role of neighborhood physical environment on mobility and social participation among people using mobility assistive technology

“…Although empirical research in this area is growing, there is limited knowledge surrounding the barriers and facilitators to mobility and social participation that are encountered in the neighborhood physical environment by MAT users (Botticello, Rohrbach, and Cobbold 2015;Clarke 2014;Harris, Yang, and Sanford 2015). Understanding the opportunities and constraints afforded by the neighborhood physical environment is central to understanding the mobility and social participation of this population, and could inform interventions and policies to foster independence, health, and well-being of MAT users, as well as contribute to the emergent literature about enabling environments (O'Brien 2014; Gibson et al 2012;Duff 2009;Hansji, Wilson, and Cordier 2015).…”

“…For the quantitative studies, the smallest sample size was 16 participants (Cooper et al 2011) and the largest sample size was 70,311 participants (LaPlante and Kaye 2010). Five studies were cross-sectional (Botticello, Rohrbach, and Cobbold 2014;Brandt, Iwarsson, and Ståhle 2004;Harris, Yang, and Sanford 2015;Liang et al 2008;Pettersson et al 2015), four studies used longitudinal designs (i.e., multi-cohort study, cohort study, or panel survey) (Auger et al 2010;Hoenig et al 2003;LaPlante and Kaye 2010;Meyers et al 2002), and three studies used a combination of surveys and data loggers installed on the participants' wheelchairs (i.e., prospective observational study design) (Cooper et al 2011;Karmarkar et al 2011;Tolerico et al 2007). Finally, one quantitative study was a randomized clinical trial, and one used multiple stage survey as their methods (Carlson and Myklebust 2002;Hoenig et al 2007).…”

“…Twelve studies focused on mobility (Bromley, Matthews, and Thomas 2007;Clarke 2014;Gell et al 2015;Gonzalez and Lord 2015;Harris, Yang, and Sanford 2015;Hoenig et al 2007;Kirchner, Gerber, and Smith 2008;Korotchenko and Hurd Clarke 2014;LaPlante and Kaye 2010;Löfqvist et al 2009;Matthews et al 2003;Meyers et al 2002) and seven studies focused on social participation (Botticello, Rohrbach, and Cobbold 2014;Cooper et al 2011;Karmarkar et al 2011;Kylberg et al 2013;Pettersson et al 2015;Tolerico et al 2007;Wee and Lysaght 2009). The remaining eleven studies focused on both mobility and social participation (Auger et al 2010;Barker, Reid, and Cott 2006;Brandt, Iwarsson, and Ståhle 2004;Carlson and Myklebust 2002;Fomiatti et al 2014;Gibson et al 2012;Hedberg-Kristensson, Ivanoff, and Iwarsson 2007;Hjelle and Vik 2011;Hoenig et al 2003;Liang et al 2008;Rosenberg et al 2013).…”

“…Fourteen of the articles stated that the "sidewalk and street conditions" impede mobility among all MAT users. "Uneven or narrow sidewalks" and "rough pavement" are among the most reported barriers (Barker, Reid, and Cott 2006;Bromley, Matthews, and Thomas 2007;Fomiatti et al 2014;Harris, Yang, and Sanford 2015;Hjelle and Vik 2011;Hoenig et al 2007;Kirchner, Gerber, and Smith 2008;Korotchenko and Hurd Clarke 2014;Kylberg et al 2013;LaPlante and Kaye 2010;Matthews et al 2003;Meyers et al 2002;Pettersson et al 2015;Rosenberg et al 2013). Absent "curb cuts" or those that were too high, poorly designed or obstructed were problematic (Bromley, Matthews, and Thomas 2007;Harris, Yang, and Sanford 2015;Hoenig et al 2007;Kirchner, Gerber, and Smith 2008;Korotchenko and Hurd Clarke 2014;Matthews et al 2003;Meyers et al 2002;Rosenberg et al 2013).…”

“…The absence of crosswalks at key intersections and crosswalks that were poorly designed (i.e., not enough time to cross, inaccessible press buttons) were barriers to mobility for most MAT users, except those using crutches (Harris, Yang, and Sanford 2015;Kirchner, Gerber, and Smith 2008;Korotchenko and Hurd Clarke 2014;Matthews et al 2003;Rosenberg et al 2013).…”