A comparison of patients' and physiotherapists' expectations about walking post spinal cord injury: a longitudinal cohort study.
METHODS
A longitudinal cohort study.


OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of this study was to compare the expectations that patients with recent spinal cord injury (SCI) had about walking 1 year from injury with the expectations of their physiotherapists.


METHODS
Two Sydney SCI units.


METHODS
A consecutive series of 47 patients admitted to the metropolitan SCI units was recruited. Using the mobility scale, expectations of the patients and their physiotherapists about walking at 1 year from SCI were recorded at the time of admission to rehabilitation. Ability to walk was then assessed at 1 year from the SCI.


RESULTS
On admission to rehabilitation, 31 patients expected to walk about their homes at 1 year post SCI, but only 18 (58%) of these patients did so. In contrast, physiotherapists expected 21 patients to be able to walk about their homes at 1 year post SCI, with 17 (81%) of these patients doing so. Similarly, whereas 21 patients expected to walk about the community at 1 year post SCI, only 11 (52%) of these patients did so. Physiotherapists expected 8 patients to walk about the community at 1 year post SCI and 7 (88%) of these patients did so. The differences between patients' and physiotherapists' expectations about walking were statistically significant (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a high degree of disagreement between patients' and physiotherapists' expectations about walking at 1 year post SCI. Differences between patients' and physiotherapists' expectations about walking are potentially problematic and requires research to identify appropriate management strategies.
Rehabilitation Studies Unit, Northern Clinical School, Sydney School of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. lisa.harvey@sydney.edu.au
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LA
Harvey
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Adams
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Chu
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Batty
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Barratt
D000328:Adult; D059031:Anticipation, Psychological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients; D059825:Physical Therapists; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult