Mobility Assistive Device Utilization in a Prospective Study of Patients With First-Ever Stroke
By Jutai, Jeffrey; Coulson, Sherry; Teasell, Robert; Bayley, Mark; Garland, Jayne; Mayo, Nancy; Wood-Dauphinee, Sharon; Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vol. 88, No. 10, pp. 1268-1275Publication Date: October 2007
Study examined the extent to which clinical and functional features of stroke were related to the use of mobility assistive technology devices (ATDs). A total of 316 patients with a first-ever stroke were followed up at 3-month intervals for 12 months; 135 of these patients received mobility ATDs post-stroke and 181 did not. The mobility devices included canes, walkers, and wheelchairs. Outcome measures included the Canadian Neurological Scale (stroke severity), the Mini-Mental State Examination (cognitive impairment), the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (physical functioning), and the Stroke Impact Scale (mobility). Analyses revealed that the use or nonuse of ATDs for mobility, and the types of devices used, were reliably associated with measurements of mobility capacity, functional independence, cognitive status, and stroke severity. Device non-users were less physically disabled than device users. Poor physical functioning but good cognition was associated with the use of multiple mobility devices. For single device users, wheelchair use was predicted by cognition, functional independence, and stroke recovery.
Published by: W.B. Saunders Company, a division of Elsevier Health Sciences (Website:http://us.elsevierhealth.com)
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Web Site: http://www.aapmr.org/ )
American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (Web Site: http://www.acrm.org )
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number J53358
