Investigation of factors associated with manual wheelchair mobility in persons with spinal cord injury

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Study measured the wheelchair mobility of people with a spinal cord injury (SCI), and assessed the relationship between wheelchair mobility and demographics, type of manual wheelchair, and participation. Participants were 132 people with SCI from 6 Model SCI Systems who used a manual wheelchair as their primary means of mobility. Wheelchair-related mobility characteristics were measured by a data-logging device and community participation was measured by the short form of the Craig Handicap Assessment Recording Technique (CHART). Age was found to be significantly related to average speed traveled per day. Whites were found to travel significantly further and accumulate more minutes per day compared with minorities. Participants who were employed traveled significantly further, faster, and for more minutes per day than those who were not employed. A moderate relationship was found between wheelchair mobility data and CHART total score. Results suggest a need for future investigation of the factors that influence wheelchair mobility and community participation of persons with SCI. Findings indicate the efficacy of a quantitative method to track wheelchair mobility in community settings, which could serve as a way of identifying community participation for people with SCI and possibly uncovering additional aspects of participation.

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