What is the study about?
This study examined the effect of wheelchair transfers and transfer technique on wheelchair users’ median nerve, which is located in the wrist; damage to the nerve can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome. It linked ultrasound measures of the median nerve with how an individual performed wheelchair ...
Areas where bones are close to the surface (called "bony prominences") and areas that are under the most pressure are at greatest risk for developing pressure sores.
In bed, body parts can be padded with pillows or foam to keep bony prominences (areas where bones are close to the skin surface) ...
What is the study about?
Survival within two years after spinal cord injury (SCI) has greatly improved over the past few decades, although long-term survival after the first two years has not shown significant improvement. However, people with SCI still have higher rates of mortality than people without SCI. To better ...
What do I need to know?
Ninety-five percent of all pressure sores are preventable!
After spinal cord injury, your skin requires daily care and a lot of attention.
You will need to spend time daily cleaning the skin, keeping it dry (from incontinence or perspiration), checking the skin for problems or changes, moving ...
What do I need to know?
Individuals with SCI are at high risk for developing pressure sores.
Pressure sores can be life threatening.
Possible complications:
Infections can develop and spread to the blood, heart and bone.
Amputations
Prolonged bed rest necessary for healing can keep you out of work, school and social activities for months.
Because ...
A pressure sore (also called pressure ulcer, decubitus ulcer, decubiti (plural), bedsore or skin breakdown) is an area of the skin or underlying tissue (muscle, bone) that is damaged due to loss of blood flow to the area. Blood flow to the skin keeps it alive and healthy. If the ...
What is skin tolerance?
Skin tolerance is how much time your skin can stand to be under pressure before damage starts to occur. Each person's skin tolerance is different. Some people may need to relieve pressure very often, others may not have to do it as often, but they still need ...
This is a podcast-brief from the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center.
Patient: You want me to transfer on my own?
PT: Yes, you’re ready. We have practiced together what to do.
It’s important for most anyone who uses a wheelchair after spinal cord injury to learn proper transfer techniques. It helps you minimize ...
What is the study about?
This study examined changes to shoulder tendons as people with spinal cord injury (SCI) transferred to and from a wheelchair. When people with SCI transfer they repeatedly stress their shoulder tendons, including the biceps and supraspinatus. It is possible that overuse may lead to tendon changes ...
What is the study about?
The study evaluated how technique used during wheelchair transfers related to shoulder pain and injury in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Since wheelchair users depend on their arms to perform most of their daily activities, muscles and tendons around the shoulder often get overused and ...
Objectives: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Transfer Assessment Instrument Questionnaire (TAI-Q), a self-assessment measure to evaluate transfer quality compared with clinician-reported measures.
Design: Participants self-assessed transfers from their wheelchair to a mat table using the TAI-Q. For session 1, participants self-assessed their transfer both before and after reviewing a ...
What is the study about?
This study aimed at refining Transfer Assessment Instrument 2.0 (TAI), perform reliability testing, and evaluate measurement properties of the refined version of TAI 3.0. This study is important because TAI is an objective and quantifiable measure of transfer technique that helps clinicians detect harmful transfer technique ...
This training will teach you how to move to and from your wheelchair and help you to prevent wear and tear on your body. It is designed for manual and power wheelchair users and anyone interested in learning about a three-phase technique for safe wheelchair transfers.
This infographic teaches how to transfer in and out of a power wheelchair safely in three simple steps. Learning how to transfer correctly can protect the user's arms and shoulders.
For more information about how to transfer safely, see MSKTC’s factsheet on Safe Transfer Technique.
This infographic teaches how to transfer in and out of a manual wheelchair safely in three simple steps. Learning how to transfer correctly can protect the user's arms and shoulders.
For more information about how to transfer safely, see MSKTC’s factsheet on Safe Transfer Technique.
What is a personal care attendant?
A personal care attendant, or PCA, is someone paid to help you with some or all of your self-care and other activities that you need for daily living after spinal cord injury (SCI).
“Personal Assistant” and “Personal Assistant Service” are other terms that refer to similar ...
The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center presents an audio factsheet on Personal Care Attendants. The factsheet was developed by Phil Klebine, MA, Casey Azuero, PhD, MPH, Kelli Arthur, MSW, LICSW, and Jeanne Zanca, PhD, MPT, in collaboration with the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center. The information in this factsheet is ...
Pain is a serious problem for many people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Pain after SCI can occur in parts of the body where there is normal sensation (feeling) as well as areas that have little or no feeling.