Adaptation of a seated postural control measure for adult wheelchair users.
OBJECTIVE
Clinical measures of seated postural control in adults are not standardized and most are derived from in-house tools. The purpose of this study is to adapt a pediatric instrument to evaluate seated postural control in adult wheelchair users.


METHODS
The new instrument is called the Seated Postural Control Measure for Adults (SPCMA) 1.0. Five preliminary versions were pretested with some 20 adults by two raters and a group of experts.


RESULTS
This instrument comprises three sections: Section 1, level of sitting scale for adults (1 item, 7-point ordinal scale); Section 2, static postural alignment (22 items, 7-point ordinal scale); and Section 3, postural alignment after a dynamic activity, propulsion of the wheelchair on flat terrain and an incline (22 items, 7-point ordinal scale).


CONCLUSIONS
The SPCMA for Adults 1.0 improves the quality and uniformity of evaluations done by different raters, which facilitates more rigorous follow-up of clients over time, communication between professionals, and objective verification of the attainment of intervention objectives.
Gagnon
Brigitte
B
Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada. claude.vincent@rea.ulaval.ca
Vincent
Claude
C
Noreau
Luc
L
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D019563:Mechanics; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011792:Quebec; D014910:Wheelchairs / Q000592:standards