The effect of footrests on sitting balance in paraplegic subjects.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that footrests contribute to active control of sitting balance.


METHODS
Cross-sectional group study.


METHODS
Rehabilitation center.


METHODS
Ten persons with complete low thoracic (T9-12) spinal cord injury (SCI), 10 persons with complete lumbar (L1-5) SCI, and 10 matched able-bodied controls.


METHODS
An elastically suspended footrest.


METHODS
Reaching distance, time needed to perform a bimanual forward-reaching movement, center of pressure displacement, and muscle activity.


RESULTS
Controls performed the forward-reaching movement slower and with less forward acceleration of the center of mass (COM) in the chair with the elastic footrest. Furthermore, they revealed a typical change in muscle activity patterns when the solid footrest was replaced by the elastic one. Persons with SCI performed the forward-reaching movement equally fast in both footrest conditions, but those with lumbar SCI showed less forward acceleration of the COM, whereas persons with thoracic SCI revealed more forward acceleration of the COM in the chair with the elastic footrest. Muscle activity patterns in persons with SCI did not indicate alternative muscle use through possible compensations or reflex activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Regarding wheelchair design, footrest condition does not seem to affect the range in which manual activities of daily living can be performed, but it does affect how they are performed.
Janssen-Potten
Yvonne J
YJ
Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Hoensbroek, The Netherlands. Yvonne.Potten@iRv.nl
Seelen
Henk A
HA
Drukker
Jan
J
Spaans
Frank
F
Drost
Maarten R
MR
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D014910:Wheelchairs