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Assessing mobility characteristics and activity levels of manual wheelchair users

Tolerico, ML and Ding, D and Cooper, RA and Spaeth, DM and Fitzgerald, SG and Cooper, R and Kelleher, A and Boninger, ML (2007) Assessing mobility characteristics and activity levels of manual wheelchair users. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 44 (4). 561 - 571. ISSN 0748-7711

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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 < 0.001). We found that manual wheelchair users who were employed covered more distance, accumulated more minutes, and traveled a greater average maximum distance between consecutive stops than those who were unemployed. Results from this study provide a better understanding of the activity levels achieved by manual wheelchair users and insight into factors that may influence this activity.

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Details

Item Type: Article
Status: Published
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Tolerico, ML
Ding, Ddad5@pitt.eduDAD5
Cooper, RARCOOPER@pitt.eduRCOOPER
Spaeth, DM
Fitzgerald, SG
Cooper, Rcooperrm@pitt.eduCOOPERRM
Kelleher, Aakellehe@pitt.eduAKELLEHE
Boninger, MLboninger@pitt.eduBONINGER
Centers: Other Centers, Institutes, Offices, or Units > Human Engineering Research Laboratories
Date: 27 August 2007
Date Type: Publication
Journal or Publication Title: Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development
Volume: 44
Number: 4
Page Range: 561 - 571
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1682/jrrd.2006.02.0017
Schools and Programs: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences > Rehabilitation Science and Technology
Refereed: Yes
ISSN: 0748-7711
MeSH Headings: Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Aged; Disabled Persons--rehabilitation; Equipment Design; Female; Humans; Life Style; Male; Middle Aged; Motor Activity--physiology; Quality of Life; Retrospective Studies; Wheelchairs--standards; Young Adult
PubMed ID: 18247253
Date Deposited: 12 Oct 2012 19:12
Last Modified: 05 Feb 2019 03:55
URI: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/id/eprint/15746

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