@article{ref1,
title="Perceptions of fall circumstances, recovery methods and community participation in manual wheelchair users",
journal="American journal of physical medicine and rehabilitation",
year="2019",
author="Rice, Laura A. and Peters, Joseph and Sung, JongHun and Bartlo, Wendy D. and Sosnoff, Jacob J.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To examine the circumstances surrounding the worst fall experienced by full time manual wheelchair users in the past 12 months, the recovery process, and influence on community participation. <br><br>DESIGN: Mixed-methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to understand the circumstances of the worst fall experienced and the recovery process. A quantitative fear of falling assessment and the Community Participation Indicators (CPI) were used to further evaluate the influence of the fall. <br><br>RESULTS: 20 manual wheelchair users, 47 ± 13 years old (mean ± SD), 55% male. Falls most commonly occurred outside during wheelchair propulsion. Falls were attributed to both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. 70% of participants reported a fear of falling and 80% required assistance to recovery. No significant correlations were found between fall frequency and CPI scores. Participants who needed assistance to recover (56.70 ± 17.66) had lower CPI importance scores compared to participants able to recover independently (88.93 ± 22.13), P= 0.05. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Falls are complex and the majority of manual wheelchair users need assistance to recover. Comprehensive programs including education on prevention and post fall management are needed. <br><br>RESULTS may increase understanding of the circumstances associated with falls and inform the development of evidenced-based clinical practice guidelines.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0894-9115",
doi="10.1097/PHM.0000000000001161",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000001161"
}