EFFECT OF WHEEL-CHAIR TRAINING ON FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY IN INDIVIDUALS WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY

J. Sutaria¹, A. Bhise²

¹Government Physiotherapy College and Government Spine Institute, Physiotherapy, Ahmedabad, India, ²U N Mehta Institute of Cardiology & Research Centre, Physiotherapy, Ahmedabad, India

Background: Manual wheelchair is most important assistive device for the patient with spinal cord injury who has loss of motor function in lower extremity due to injury in thoracic-lumber region. Independent wheelchair mobility for daily activities, social participation and functional ability may be improved in patients with spinal cord injury by wheelchair training.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Wheelchair Training in improving Functional Capacity in patient with below D6 spinal cord injury.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was undertaken. 150 patients with spinal cord injury below D6 were randomized into experimental group A (n=57) and control group B (n=58). Total 44 participants from group A and 43 from group B completed training session. Experimental group A received Manual Wheelchair Training whereas Control group B received Conventional therapy sessions. The intervention was given for 3 days per week on alternate days for 6 weeks. All individuals were tested at baseline and post intervention using 4 Functional Tasks (Forward Wheeling, Ramp Ascending, Vertical Reach and One Stroke Push) for measurement of functional capacity.

Results: Total 87 participants were analyzed using appropriate test after testing for normal distribution. Analysis was done for within group and between group analysis for all the outcome measures. Significant differences in all 4-Functional Tasks (Forward Wheeling, Ramp Ascending, One Stroke Push, Vertical Reach Test) (p<0.05) were found for within groups and there was also significant improvement in between groups except Vertical Reach task.

Conclusions: Wheelchair training is more beneficial than conventional therapy alone for improvement of functional capacity in patients with spinal cord injury.

Implications: Wheelchair training is safer and has a clinically significant effect on independent wheelchair mobility and positive psychological impact among new wheelchair users. These findings have implication for standards of care in rehabilitation programs.

Funding acknowledgements: No funding.

Keywords:
Spinal Cord Injury
Wheelchair Training
Functional Capacity

Topics:
Neurology: spinal cord injury
Disability & rehabilitation
Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: B.J. Medical College & Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad

Committee: Institutional Ethics Committee

Ethics number: GSIIESC/10/18