Model System:

SCI

Reference Type:

JA

Accession No.:

Journal:


Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

, 44, 4, 561-572

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Although engaging in an active lifestyle is beneficial for maintaining quality of life, a majority of wheelchair users are inactive. This study investigated the mobility characteristics and activity levels of manual wheelchair users in the residential setting and at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG). Demographic factors that may have influenced activity in the home environment were also identified. Fifty-two manual wheelchair users completed a brief survey, and their activity was monitored with a custom data logger over a period of 13 or 20 days. We found that they traveled a mean +/- standard deviation of 2,457.0 +/- 1,195.7 m/d at a speed of 0.79 +/- 0.19 m/s for 8.3 +/- 3.3 h/d while using their primary wheelchair in the home environment. No significant differences in mobility characteristics or activity levels were found for level of spinal cord injury or disability. We also found that subjects traveled significantly farther and faster and were active for more hours during an average day at the NVWG than in the home environment (p

Author(s):


Tolerico, M. L., Ding, D., Cooper, R. A., Spaeth, D. M., Fitzgerald, S. G., Cooper, R., Kelleher, A., Boninger, M. L.

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