title: Ambulatory assistive devices and walking performance in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury.
abstract: METHODS
  A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To primarily explore types of ambulatory assistive device (AAD) used and secondarily describe walking performance in independent ambulatory patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) who walked without and with various AADs as determined using walking speed and distance walked in 6 min.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tertiary rehabilitation center and community hospitals, Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data of 195 independent ambulatory patients with SCI were used to describe the use of an AAD. Among these, only 140 subjects were assessed for their walking speed and distance walked in 6 min.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than half of the subjects (64%) walked with an AAD in which most of them used a standard walker (45%), followed by a single-tip cane (11%) and bilateral crutches (8%), respectively. The walking speed and distance showed significant differences among the groups (P<0.001), except those who used walker versus crutches, and those who used crutches versus cane (P>0.05). Among the significant variables, types of AAD used had the greatest influence on walking speed and distance of the subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than half of ambulatory subjects with SCI walked with an AAD in which most of them used a standard walker. However, the non-significant differences of walking performance between the groups may suggest the heterogeneity of walking ability in subjects who used the same type of AAD. Therefore, a method to facilitate the use of an AAD with less supportive ability would increase levels of independence for the patients.
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand [2] Improvement of Physical Performance and Quality of Life (IPQ) Research Group, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand [3] Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Saensook
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand [2] Improvement of Physical Performance and Quality of Life (IPQ) Research Group, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Phonthee
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand [2] Improvement of Physical Performance and Quality of Life (IPQ) Research Group, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Srisim
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand [2] Improvement of Physical Performance and Quality of Life (IPQ) Research Group, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mato
authors.affiliation: 1] Improvement of Physical Performance and Quality of Life (IPQ) Research Group, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand [2] Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wattanapan
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand [2] Improvement of Physical Performance and Quality of Life (IPQ) Research Group, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand [3] Back, Neck and Other Joint Pain (BNOJP) Research Group, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amatachaya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003446:Crutches; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014853:Walkers; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*