Physical fitness in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury, level of mobility and community participation: an observational cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Physical fitness is often low in people with spinal cord injury. It is related to functionality, participation, and wheelchair mobility. We have found discrepancies about what happens to physical fitness after rehabilitation discharge.

Objective: To describe the physical fitness of wheelchair users with spinal cord injury attending a rehabilitation institute. Secondary objective: to describe the level of mobility and community participation.

Methodology: Observational, cross-sectional study. Subjects living in the community were included. The main variable was the level of physical fitness according to the 6-minute manual propulsion test. Secondary variables such as community mobility (SCIM III and WST-Q) and participation perception (RNLI) were considered.

Results: Sixteen subjects were included. The level of physical fitness was low in 87.5% of them. Regarding community mobility, 56% moved independently over distances greater than 100 meters. As for the perception of participation, 62.5% had mild to moderate restrictions.

Conclusion: Physical fitness, community mobility, and participation in subjects with spinal cord injury were described. The majority of the sample has low physical fitness, requires some degree of assistance in community mobility, and has mild to moderate participation restrictions.