Article

This study determined and compared wheelchair mobility 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.

Langue : ANGLAIS