title: The relationship between quality of life and change in mobility 1 year postinjury in individuals with spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine quality-of-life (QOL) factors and change in mobility in individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) 1 year after injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case study of National SCI Database data.
  
  
  METHODS
  SCI Model Systems (SCIMS) sites (N=18).
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects (N=1826; age >18y) who presented to an SCIMS site after traumatic SCI between June 2004 and July 2009 and returned for 1-year follow-up. All subjects had FIM mobility data for both assessments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assessment of impairment based on Lower-Extremity Motor Score. Assessment of QOL based on Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique, Patient Health Questionnaire, Satisfaction With Life Scale, Self-perceived Health Status, and pain severity scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the sample, 55 individuals transitioned from walking to wheelchair use within 1 year of discharge. This group had the highest number of individuals from minority groups (52.8%) and the lowest employment rate (7.3%). Compared with individuals who transitioned from wheelchair use to walking or maintained wheelchair use or ambulation, the walking-to-wheelchair transition group had significantly lower QOL scores (P<.01), including higher depression (P<.01) and higher pain severity (P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals with SCI who transitioned from walking at discharge to wheelchair use within 1 year had low QOL factors, including high pain and depression scores. Rehabilitation professionals should consider encouraging marginal ambulators to work toward functional independence from a wheelchair, rather than primary ambulation during acute inpatient rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Riggins
authors.forename: Padmaja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kankipati
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Oyster
authors.forename: Rory A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Boninger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D044469:Racial Groups; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology*; D014910:Wheelchairs / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult