@article{ref1,
title="Objective assessment of mobility of the spinal cord injured in a free-living environment",
journal="Spinal Cord",
year="2008",
author="Wilson, S. K. M. and Hasler, J. P. and Dall, P. M. and Granat, M. H.",
volume="46",
number="5",
pages="352-357",
abstract="STUDY DESIGN: An exploratory study of the practicality and feasibility of an instrument. OBJECTIVES: To adapt an activity monitor for use on a wheelchair to assess long-term mobility in a free-living environment in the spinal cord injury (SCI) population, and to explore the utility of the data collected. SETTING: Glasgow, UK. METHODS: An activity monitor was adapted for use on a wheelchair wheel. The monitor was used to assess, for 1 week, the wheelchair mobility of seven participants with SCI who only used a wheelchair. In conjunction with a second monitor on the thigh the mobility of seven participants with SCI who used a wheelchair and upright mobility, and five healthy non-wheelchair users, were assessed for 1 day. RESULTS: The adapted monitor collected 1260 h of data and was suitable for use on both manual and electric wheelchairs. During 1 week, participants with SCI who only used a wheelchair spent between 4 and 13 h moving in the wheelchair, covering a distance of between 7 and 28 km. Distinct differences in mobility were shown between participants with an SCI and non-wheelchair users. The differences in time spent in mobility activities between the groups of participants with SCI were smaller. CONCLUSIONS: The system was successfully used in this group of participants with SCI, and could provide useful information on the mobility of people with SCI in a free-living environment.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1362-4393",
doi="10.1038/sj.sc.3102153",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.sc.3102153"
}