Risk Factors Associated With Falls and Fall-Related Injuries Among Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury

Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation, 2022 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arrct.2022.100195 · Published: January 1, 2022

Spinal Cord Injury Assistive Technology Trauma

Simple Explanation

Falls are common in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), leading to physical injuries, fear of falling, and reduced activity. This study aims to identify risk factors for falls and fall-related injuries in wheelchair users with SCI to improve prevention strategies. The study involved 59 community-dwelling wheelchair users with chronic SCI who reported falls and injuries over the previous 6 months. Researchers assessed various self-reported and performance-based measures to identify factors influencing falls and injuries. The study found that shorter time since SCI, high mobility level, and having received education on fall prevention were associated with falls. Older male individuals with lower physical health scores and education on fall prevention were associated with fall-related injuries.

Study Duration

6 Months

Participants

59 community dwelling wheelchair users with chronic SCI

Evidence Level

Cross-sectional study

Key Findings

1
Shorter time since SCI is associated with a higher risk of falls.
2
Higher mobility level, as measured by the SCIM III, increases the odds of falls.
3
Lower physical health score on the WHOQOL is associated with increased odds of fall-related injuries.

Research Summary

This study identified risk factors for falls and fall-related injuries among wheelchair users with SCI. The study found that shorter time since SCI and higher mobility levels were associated with a higher risk of falls. Lower scores in physical health domain were associated with fall-related injuries. The researchers utilized logistic regression models to identify factors influencing falls and fall-related injuries. The model for falls included time since SCI and mobility level, while the model for fall-related injuries included physical health scores. The findings suggest that clinicians should consider time since injury, mobility level, and physical health when assessing fall risk in this population. Education on fall prevention was not found to be a protective factor, indicating a potential need for improvement in current educational programs.

Practical Implications

Targeted Fall Prevention Programs

The identified risk factors can be used to develop tailored fall prevention programs for wheelchair users with SCI, focusing on those with shorter time since injury and higher mobility levels.

Physical Health Interventions

Interventions aimed at improving physical health, as measured by the WHOQOL, may reduce the risk of fall-related injuries in this population.

Re-evaluate Fall Prevention Education

Current fall prevention education programs may need to be re-evaluated and improved to effectively reduce falls and fall-related injuries among wheelchair users with SCI.

Study Limitations

1
Relatively small sample size.
2
Reliance on self-reported and retrospective fall data, which may be subject to recall bias.
3
Potential underreporting of minor fall-related injuries.

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