title: Effect of durations of wheelchair tilt-in-space and recline on skin perfusion over the ischial tuberosity in people with spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of various durations of wheelchair tilt-in-space and recline on enhancing skin perfusion over the ischial tuberosity in people with spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Repeated-measures, intervention and outcomes measure design.
  
  
  METHODS
  University research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Power wheelchair users with SCI (N=9).
  
  
  METHODS
  Three protocols of various durations (3min, 1min, and 0min) of wheelchair tilt-in-space and recline were randomly assigned to the participants. Each protocol consisted of a baseline 15-minute sitting, a duration of 0- to 3-minute reclined and tilted, a second 15-minute sitting, and a 5-minute recovery. The position at the baseline and the second sitting was no tilt/recline of the participant and at the reclined and tilted and recovery was at 35° tilt-in-space and 120° recline.
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin perfusion response to tilt and recline was assessed by laser Doppler and was normalized to mean skin perfusion at the baseline sitting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that mean skin perfusion during recovery at the 3-minute duration was significantly higher than that at the 1-minute duration (P<.017) and mean skin perfusion was not significantly different between the 1-minute and 0-minute durations (not significant). Skin perfusion during the second sitting was significantly higher at the 3-minute duration than at the 1-minute and 0-minute durations (P<.017).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that performing the 3-minute duration of wheelchair tilt-in-space and recline is more effective than the 1-minute duration in enhancing skin perfusion of weight-bearing soft tissues.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. yjan@uiuc.edu
authors.forename: Yih-Kuen
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Jan
authors.forename: Fuyuan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tisdell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007512:Ischium; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056888:Patient Positioning; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D013997:Time Factors; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology; D014910:Wheelchairs