Citation

Phonthee S, Saengsuwan J, Siritaratiwat W, Amatachaya S. Phys. Ther. 2013; 93(8): 1061-1072.

Affiliation

S. Phonthee, PT, MSc, School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, and Improvement of Physical Performance and Quality of Life (IPQ) Research Group, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, American Physical Therapy Association)

DOI

10.2522/ptj.20120467

PMID

23599352

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sensorimotor impairments following spinal cord injury (SCI) affect mobility that subsequently increases risk of falls to the patients. However, most of the fall data for these patients were retrospectively gathered. OBJECTIVES: This study prospectively assessed falls and intrinsic factors associated with falls in 89 independent ambulatory subjects with SCI over 6 months. In addition, functional ability between subjects who did and did not fall was compared. METHODS: Subjects were interviewed and assessed for their baseline data and functional ability using the Timed Up and Go Test and the 6-Minute Walk Test. Then they were interviewed weekly to gather fall data for 6 months using a fall questionnaire. A stepwise multiple logistic regression was utilized to determine the effects of demographics and SCI characteristics on occurrence of falls. The functional data between subjects who fell and those who did not fall were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Thirty-five subjects (39%) experienced at least one fall during 6 months (range 1-11 times). After falls, two subjects required medical attention due to patellar and sternum fractures. At least high school graduation, and having an American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) C and having fear of falling (FOF) significantly increased risk of falls approximately 4 times compared to those who graduated primary education, had AIS D and did not have FOF (p<0.05). Moreover, the functional abilities of subjects who fell were significantly poorer than those who did not fall (p<0.05). LIMITATIONS: CONCLUSIONS: More than one third of the independent ambulatory subjects with SCI experienced at least 1 fall during 6 months. The findings suggested the importance of functional improvement on the reduction of fall risk in these individuals.

Language: en