A brief fall prevention intervention for manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries: A pilot study. (2nd September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rice, Laura A.; Sung, Jong Hun; Keane, Kathleen; Peterson, Elizabeth; Sosnoff, Jacob J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of spinal cord medicine. Volume 43:Number 5(2020:Sep.)
• Page Start: 607
• Page End: 615
• Publication Date: 2020-09-02
• Subjects: Accidental falls -- Spinal cord injury -- Wheelchair; Spinal cord -- Wounds and injuries -- Periodicals; Spinal cord -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.8305
• DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2019.1643070
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1079-0268

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To conduct a pilot study of an intervention to decrease fall incidence and concerns about falling among individuals living with Spinal Cord Injury who use manual wheelchairs full-time. Design: Pre/post. After a baseline assessment, a structured intervention was implemented. The assessment protocol was repeated 12 weeks after the baseline assessment. Setting: Research laboratory and community. Participants: 18 individuals living with SCI who use a manual wheelchair full-time with an average age of 35.78 ± 13.89 years, lived with SCI for 17.06 ± 14.6 years; 61.1% were female. Intervention: A 1:1, 45 minute, in-person intervention focused on factors associated with falls and concerns about falling: transfers skills and seated postural control. Outcome measures: Participants reported fall incidence and completed the Spinal Cord Injury Fall Concerns Scale, Community Participation Indicators and the World Health Organization Quality of Life – short version (WHOQOL-BREF). Transfer quality was assessed with the Transfer Assessment Instrument (TAI) and seated postural control with the Function In Seating Test (FIST). Results: Recruitment, assessment and delivery of the intervention were successfully completed. After exposure to the intervention, fall incidence significantly decreased, (P = 0.047, dz = 0.507) and FIST scores improved (P = 0.035, dz = 0.54). Significant improvements were also found in the WHOQOL-BREF Physical (P = 0.05, dz = 1.566) and Psychological (P = 0.040, dz = 0.760) domains. Conclusion: The feasibility of the structured intervention was established and the intervention has the potential to reduce fall incidence and improve quality of life among individuals living with SCI who use a wheelchair. Appropriately powered randomized controlled trials of the program are warranted.