Wheelchair-Related Falls in Veterans With Spinal Cord Injury Residing in the Community: A Prospective Cohort Study

Nelson, Audrey; Groer, Shirley; Palacios, Polly; Mitchell, Douglas; Sabharwal, Sunil; Kirby, R. Lee; Gavin-Dreschnack, Deborah; Powell‐Cope, Gail

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2010.05.008

Cited by 100 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Studies of wheelchair users have reported annual injury frequencies of 5 to 18 percent [44][45][46]. These rates are far below those described for scooter users.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Scoping review of mobility scooter-related research studies

Mortenson

Kim

2016

J Rehabil Res Dev

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Abstract-Mobility scooters are three-or four-wheeled power mobility devices regularly used by people who have difficulty ambulating. They also differ from power wheelchairs in terms of their driving controls, programmability, seating, and mounting method. Given their growing popularity and anecdotal concerns around their use, a scoping review was undertaken to identify empirical research about mobility scooters and to analyze their study design and purpose. Data sources included MedLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, and PsychINFO. Thirty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were descriptive in nature and reported information about scooter users' demographics, scooter-related activities, and accidents. The most common study design was a pre-and postintervention followed by a cross-sectional survey and retrospective review. Despite the increasing use of mobility scooters, surprisingly little scooterrelated research has been conducted. Given the nature of most of the research in this area, further empirical evidence is needed to develop a better understanding about the frequency and causes of scooter accidents and the efficacy of interventions to improve users' skills, mobility, and safety.

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“…Studies of wheelchair users have reported annual injury frequencies of 5 to 18 percent [44][45][46]. These rates are far below those described for scooter users.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Scoping review of mobility scooter-related research studies

Mortenson

Kim

2016

J Rehabil Res Dev

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“…This inappropriateness might lead to falls in patients with SCI. Nelson et al 17 have determined wheelchairrelated falls. According to their results, the incidence of falls was 31% and that of injurious falls was 14%.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Study of wheelchair features can help address the issue of wheelchair-related falls in patients with SCI. 17 Adjustable armrests are important to prevent falls during transfer from wheelchair to the bed. However, some patients do not require armrests since they can push up and transfer themselves, and so the armrests can be removed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wheelchair appropriateness in patients with spinal cord injury: a Turkish experience

2014

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Study design: Descriptive. Objective: To determine the wheelchair appropriateness in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Setting: National Rehabilitation Center in Ankara, Turkey. Methods: Twenty-seven (25 male, 2 female) SCI patients were included. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were noted. All wheelchairs were evaluated considering each part (seat length, seat depth, seat height, back height, armrest, headrest, wheels and seat belt) by a physiatrist who had attended the wheelchair-training course. The wheelchair was declared as inappropriate if at least three parts of wheelchair were not appropriate. Results: The mean age of the patients was 32.9 ± 9.3 years and mean duration of wheelchair use was 19.63 ± 23.02 months. Among the patients, 21 (77.8%) were American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) A, 4 (3.7%) AIS B, 1 (3.7%) AIS C and 1 (3.7%) AIS D. Five (18.5%) wheelchairs were motorized and 22 (81.5%) were manual. Overall, 15 (55.6%) wheelchairs were inappropriate. Seat height, cushion and back height were the most common inappropriate parts. Conclusion: In light of our first and preliminary results, we can argue that 55% of the patients with SCI use inappropriate wheelchairs. In order to achieve better mobility; personally designed wheelchairs should be prescribed by the clinicians.

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“…Moreover, upper-limb assistive devices for transfers, such as sliding boards and lifts, appear to be an unused option for the treatment and prevention of shoulder problems because of their inconvenience and lack of portability [1,8,17]. For these reasons, education and training on proper transfer techniques may be paramount to preserving limb function and maximizing quality of life, independence, and participation [5,[18][19][20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transfer component skill deficit rates among Veterans who use wheelchairs

et al. 2016

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Abstract-The purpose of this study was to quantify the deficit rates for transfer component skills in a Veteran cohort and explore the relationship between deficit rates and subject characteristics. Seventy-four men and 18 women performed up to four transfers independently from their wheelchair to a mat table while a therapist evaluated their transfer techniques using the Transfer Assessment Instrument. The highest deficit rates concerned the improper use of handgrips (63%). Other common problems included not setting the wheelchair up at the proper angle (50%) and not removing the armrest (58%). Veterans over 60 yr old and Veterans with moderate shoulder pain were more likely to set up their wheelchairs inappropriately than younger Veterans (p = 0.003) and Veterans with mild shoulder pain (p = 0.004). Women were less likely to remove their armrests than men (p = 0.03). Subjects with disabilities other than spinal cord injury were less inclined to set themselves up for a safe and easy transfer than the subjects with spinal cord injury (p  0.001). The results provide insight into the disparities present in transfer skills among Veterans and will inform the development of future transfer training programs both within and outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Wheelchair-Related Falls in Veterans With Spinal Cord Injury Residing in the Community: A Prospective Cohort Study

Cited by 100 publications

References 31 publications

Scoping review of mobility scooter-related research studies

Scoping review of mobility scooter-related research studies

Wheelchair appropriateness in patients with spinal cord injury: a Turkish experience

Transfer component skill deficit rates among Veterans who use wheelchairs

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