Wheelchair back-support options: functional outcomes for persons with recent spinal cord injury.

Abstract

To evaluate the functional outcomes for people with a recent spinal cord injury (SCI) when using 3 different back-support options. Repeated-measures within-subject comparison. Rehabilitation center. Twenty-seven manual wheelchair users with recent SCI. Three types of wheelchair back supports--a standard sling upholstery, a Jay J2 back, and a Pindot PaxBac--were used by each participant to evaluate performance of 4 functional tasks. Functional tasks included timed forward wheeling, ramp ascent, distance for forward vertical reach, and 1-stroke push. Product satisfaction was also rated. For most participants, best performance for each task varied with back support used. Significant differences in functional performance were found for the reaching activity (P=.01), with greater reach when the J2 was used. Satisfaction ratings also differed significantly (P=.017), with participants indicating greater satisfaction with the J2. Participants' choice of back support varied and did not consistently correspond with best performance. Except for reaching, performance of functional activities did not differ depending on back support used. Objective evaluation of reaching ability may assist in product decision making. Inclusion of a consistent battery of functional tasks could provide a standardized reference point for clients' subjective evaluations.