Wheelchair back-support options: functional outcomes for persons with recent spinal cord injury

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the functional outcomes for people with a recent spinal cord injury (SCI) when using 3 different back-support options. DESIGN: Repeated-measures within-subject comparison. SETTING: Rehabilitation center. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-seven manual wheelchair users with recent SCI. INTERVENTIONS: Three types of wheelchair back supports--a standard sling upholstery, a Jay J2 back, and a Pindot PaxBac--were used by each participant to evaluate performance of 4 functional tasks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Functional tasks included timed forward wheeling, ramp ascent, distance for forward vertical reach, and 1-stroke push. Product satisfaction was also rated. RESULTS: For most participants, best performance for each task varied with back support used. Significant differences in functional performance were found for the reaching activity (P=.01), with greater reach when the J2 was used. Satisfaction ratings also differed significantly (P=.017), with participants indicating greater satisfaction with the J2. Participants' choice of back support varied and did not consistently correspond with best performance. CONCLUSIONS: Except for reaching, performance of functional activities did not differ depending on back support used. Objective evaluation of reaching ability may assist in product decision making. Inclusion of a consistent battery of functional tasks could provide a standardized reference point for clients' subjective evaluations.