Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Mobility Device Use and Exploration of Housing Accessibility for Powered Mobility Device Users among People Ageing with Spinal Cord Injury

Pettersson, Cecilia LU ; Jörgensen, Sophie LU ; Mårtensson, Lizette LU ; Lexell, Jan LU ; Slaug, Björn LU orcid and Iwarsson, Susanne LU (2013) 12th biennial European conference of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe, 2013 33. p.226-231
Abstract
Aim: To describe the use of mobility devices among people ageing with spinal cord injury (SCI), with a specific focus on use of powered mobility devices (PMD) and housing accessibility. Method: Data on the use of walking aids (cane, crutch/es or rollator), manual wheelchair and powered wheelchair/scooter were utilized. To describe functional limitations, environmental barriers and the magnitude of accessibility problems in the home and the closest exterior surroundings for each individual, the Housing Enabler instrument was used. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results: Mobility devices: Among participants with paraplegia, the manual wheelchair was the most frequently used mobility device indoors, and among participants... (More)
Aim: To describe the use of mobility devices among people ageing with spinal cord injury (SCI), with a specific focus on use of powered mobility devices (PMD) and housing accessibility. Method: Data on the use of walking aids (cane, crutch/es or rollator), manual wheelchair and powered wheelchair/scooter were utilized. To describe functional limitations, environmental barriers and the magnitude of accessibility problems in the home and the closest exterior surroundings for each individual, the Housing Enabler instrument was used. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results: Mobility devices: Among participants with paraplegia, the manual wheelchair was the most frequently used mobility device indoors, and among participants with tetraplegia, it was the PMD. The PMD was the most common mobility device used outdoors among those with tetraplegia, and among participants with paraplegia. Housing accessibility: In exterior surroundings, refuse bin difficult to reach was the environmental barrier that generated the most accessibility problems, while at entrances doors that cannot be fastened in open position was identified as the most severe environmental barrier. Indoors, the environmental barrier that generated the most accessibility problems was wall-mounted cupboard and shelves placed high. Conclusion: To enable optimal use of the PMD in the home and close neighborhoods, and support everyday activity and participation for people ageing with SCI, it is vital to take into account not only personal and environmental aspects but also the mobility device in question. Though, it could be discussed if all the environmental barriers identified in this study, actually are problems for users of a PMD, since some of them might be possible to overcome. © 2013 The authors and IOS Press. All rights reserved. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Home, Paraplegia, Environmental Barriers, Electrical Wheelchair, Walking Aids, Tetraplegia, Manual Wheelchair
host publication
Assistive Technology : From Research to Practice - From Research to Practice
editor
Encarnação, P. ; Azevedo, L. ; Gelderblom, G.J. ; Newell, A. and Mathiassen, N-E.
volume
33
pages
226 - 231
publisher
IOS Press
conference name
12th biennial European conference of the Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe, 2013
conference location
Faro/Vilamoura, Portugal
conference dates
2013-09-19 - 2013-09-22
external identifiers
  • scopus:84889039660
ISSN
1383-813X
1879-8071
ISBN
978-1-61499-304-9
978-1-61499-303-2
DOI
10.3233/978-1-61499-304-9-226
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5d6b58ae-d995-4e93-a8d2-c47e50d3ef6e (old id 5274824)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:01:35
date last changed
2024-06-02 06:03:46
@inbook{5d6b58ae-d995-4e93-a8d2-c47e50d3ef6e,
  abstract     = {{Aim: To describe the use of mobility devices among people ageing with spinal cord injury (SCI), with a specific focus on use of powered mobility devices (PMD) and housing accessibility. Method: Data on the use of walking aids (cane, crutch/es or rollator), manual wheelchair and powered wheelchair/scooter were utilized. To describe functional limitations, environmental barriers and the magnitude of accessibility problems in the home and the closest exterior surroundings for each individual, the Housing Enabler instrument was used. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results: Mobility devices: Among participants with paraplegia, the manual wheelchair was the most frequently used mobility device indoors, and among participants with tetraplegia, it was the PMD. The PMD was the most common mobility device used outdoors among those with tetraplegia, and among participants with paraplegia. Housing accessibility: In exterior surroundings, refuse bin difficult to reach was the environmental barrier that generated the most accessibility problems, while at entrances doors that cannot be fastened in open position was identified as the most severe environmental barrier. Indoors, the environmental barrier that generated the most accessibility problems was wall-mounted cupboard and shelves placed high. Conclusion: To enable optimal use of the PMD in the home and close neighborhoods, and support everyday activity and participation for people ageing with SCI, it is vital to take into account not only personal and environmental aspects but also the mobility device in question. Though, it could be discussed if all the environmental barriers identified in this study, actually are problems for users of a PMD, since some of them might be possible to overcome. © 2013 The authors and IOS Press. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Pettersson, Cecilia and Jörgensen, Sophie and Mårtensson, Lizette and Lexell, Jan and Slaug, Björn and Iwarsson, Susanne}},
  booktitle    = {{Assistive Technology : From Research to Practice}},
  editor       = {{Encarnação, P. and Azevedo, L. and Gelderblom, G.J. and Newell, A. and Mathiassen, N-E.}},
  isbn         = {{978-1-61499-304-9}},
  issn         = {{1383-813X}},
  keywords     = {{Home; Paraplegia; Environmental Barriers; Electrical Wheelchair; Walking Aids; Tetraplegia; Manual Wheelchair}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{226--231}},
  publisher    = {{IOS Press}},
  title        = {{Mobility Device Use and Exploration of Housing Accessibility for Powered Mobility Device Users among People Ageing with Spinal Cord Injury}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-304-9-226}},
  doi          = {{10.3233/978-1-61499-304-9-226}},
  volume       = {{33}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}