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Analyzing wheelchair mobility patterns of community-dwelling older adults

Karmarkar, AM and Cooper, RA and Wang, H and Kelleher, A and Cooper, R (2011) Analyzing wheelchair mobility patterns of community-dwelling older adults. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 48 (9). 1077 - 1086. ISSN 0748-7711

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Abstract

This study determined and compared wheelchairmobility patterns for older adults during an organized sporting event and within their community. In July 2008, 39 veterans participating in the 28th National Veterans Wheelchair Games (Omaha, Nebraska) completed the study. Of these, 26 were manual wheelchair and 13 were power wheelchair users. We collected wheelchair-related mobility data using wheelchair data-logging devices. Participants were significantly more active using manual wheelchairs during the games than when using their wheelchairs in their homes in terms of distance traveled (4,466.2 vs 1,367.4 m, p < 0.001) and average speed of propulsion (0.76 vs 0.64 m/s, p < 0.001). The trend was the same for power wheelchair users, with respect to distance (7,306.2 vs 3,450.5 m, p = 0.004) and average speed (0.9 vs 0.7 m/s, p = 0.002). This study demonstrates an objective method of evaluating wheelchair use in community-dwelling older adults.

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Details

Item Type: Article
Status: Published
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Karmarkar, AM
Cooper, RARCOOPER@pitt.eduRCOOPER
Wang, Hhow11@pitt.eduHOW11
Kelleher, Aakellehe@pitt.eduAKELLEHE
Cooper, Rcooperrm@pitt.eduCOOPERRM
Centers: Other Centers, Institutes, Offices, or Units > Human Engineering Research Laboratories
Date: 14 December 2011
Date Type: Publication
Journal or Publication Title: Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development
Volume: 48
Number: 9
Page Range: 1077 - 1086
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1682/jrrd.2009.10.0177
Schools and Programs: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences > Rehabilitation Science and Technology
Refereed: Yes
ISSN: 0748-7711
MeSH Headings: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Disabled Persons; Environment; Equipment Design; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nebraska; Prospective Studies; Residence Characteristics; Social Environment; Sports; United States; United States Department of Veterans Affairs; Veterans; Wheelchairs--utilization
PubMed ID: 22234712
Date Deposited: 18 Oct 2012 16:25
Last Modified: 02 Feb 2019 16:58
URI: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/id/eprint/15792

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