title: Patterns in Wheeled Mobility Skills Training, Equipment Evaluation, and Utilization: Findings from the SCIRehab Project.
abstract: Patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) participate in manual and power wheelchair (WC) skills training during inpatient rehabilitation; wheeled mobility evaluations aim to optimize use, fit, and function of equipment following discharge. Occupational and physical therapists documented treatment sessions during inpatient rehabilitation to describe types and quantity of WC skills training and adaptive equipment (AE) provided by neurological level of injury. Most patients participated in WC skills training; variation in type and frequency exists. Propulsion/driving skills were practiced most frequently. A majority of patients participated in equipment evaluations; assessment/prescription and fitting were performed frequently; mat evaluations were done infrequently. Most patients received mobility equipment in a timely manner; they continued to use their WC and were satisfied with its fit and function at the one-year injury anniversary. High levels of respondent satisfaction with fit and function of WCs suggest clinicians are prescribing mobility devices adequately and accurately supplementing information obtained during equipment assessment and fitting sessions with information from general treatment sessions. Variation in type and frequency of WC training provided by level of SCI and in types of WC prescribed use provides a foundation for future research to relate treatment modalities with functional and participation outcomes.
authors.affiliation: a Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago , Chicago , Illinois , USA.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gassaway
authors.forename: Lauren A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Heisler-Varriale
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kozlowski
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Teeter
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Labarbera
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Natale
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Swirsky
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014910:Wheelchairs
keywords: equipment evaluation; manual wheelchair; occupational therapy; paraplegia; physical therapy; power wheelchair; rehabilitation research; spinal cord injury; tetraplegia; wheeled mobility