Abstract

We aimed to evaluate the influence of different types of wheelchair seats on paraplegic individuals' postural control using a maximum anterior reaching test. Balance evaluations during 50, 75, and 90% of each individual's maximum reach in the forward direction using two different cushions on seat (one foam and one gel) and a no-cushion condition were carried out on 11 individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) and six individuals without SCI. Trunk anterior displacement and the time spent to perform the test were assessed. No differences were found for the three types of seats in terms of trunk anterior displacement and the time spent to perform the test when intragroup comparisons were made in both groups (P greater than 0.05). The intergroup comparison showed that body displacement was less prominent and the time spent to perform the test was more prolonged for individuals with SCI (P less than 0.05), which suggests a postural control deficit. The seat type did not affect the ability of the postural control system to maintain balance during the forward-reaching task. (Contains 1 table and 2 figures.)

Citation

de Abreu, D.C.C., Takara, K., Metring, N.L., Reis, J.G. & Cliquet, A. (2012). Interference of Different Types of Seats on Postural Control System during a Forward-Reaching Task in Individuals with Paraplegia. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 35(3), 208-213. Retrieved August 16, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/113489/.

This record was imported from ERIC on July 1, 2013. [Original Record]

ERIC is sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education.

Copyright for this record is held by the content creator. For more details see ERIC's copyright policy.

Keywords

• assistive technology
• Comparative Analysis
• Foreign Countries
• Human Factors Engineering
• Human Posture
• Physical Disabilities