TABLE 4.
Physical function characteristics and assistive devices
|
Total n = 196 n (%) |
Age group 1, (18–30 years) n = 90 n (%) |
Age group 2, (31–45 years) n = 60 n (%) |
Age group 3, (46–60 years) n = 38 n (%) |
Age group 4, (≥61 years) n = 8 n (%) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neurological category | |||||
| T3‐T12 AIS A | 26 (13) | 12 (13) | 10 (16) | 4 (11) | — |
| T3‐T12 AIS A ZPP | 23 (12) | 15 (17) | 6 (10) | 2 (5) | — |
| T3‐T12 AIS B, C, D | 2 (1) | 2 (2) | — | — | — |
| L1‐L2 AIS A | 9 (5) | 4 (4) | 1 (2) | 4 (11) | — |
| L1‐L2 AIS A ZPP | 25 (13) | 5 (6) | 13 (22) | 6 (15) | 1 (13) |
| L1‐L2 AIS B, C, D | 6 (2) | 4 (4) | — | 1 (2) | 1 (13) |
| L3 AIS A | 20 (10) | 9 (10) | 7 (12) | 4 (11) | — |
| L3 AIS A ZPP | 42 (21) | 21 (24) | 11 (18) | 7 (18) | 3 (37) |
| L3 AIS B, C, D | 18 (9) | 5 (6) | 6 (10) | 4 (11) | 3 (37) |
| L4‐S1 AIS A | 1 (1) | 1 (1) | — | — | — |
| L4‐S1 AIS A ZPP | 7 (4) | 2 (2) | 2 (3) | 3 (8) | — |
| L4‐S1 AIS B, C, D | 9 (5) | 4 (4) | 3 (5) | 2 (5) | — |
| AIS E | 8 (4) | 6 (7) | 1 (2) | 1 (2) | — |
| Muscle function group (MF) | |||||
| MF 0 | 17 (9) | 10 (11) | 3 (5) | 4 (10) | — |
| MF I | 18 (9) | 9 (10) | 5 (8) | 2 (5) | 2 (25) |
| MF II | 36 (18) | 15 (17) | 9 (15) | 9 (24) | 3 (38) |
| MF III | 58 (30) | 26 (29) | 20 (33) | 9 (24) | 3 (37) |
| MF IV | 33 (17) | 13 (14) | 11 (19) | 9 (24) | — |
| MF V | 34 (17) | 17 (19) | 12 (20) | 5 (13) | — |
| Ambulatory function | |||||
| 1 | 71 (37) | 33 (37) | 18 (30) | 15 (39) | 5 (64) |
| 2 | 13 (6) | 6 (7) | 3 (5) | 3 (8) | 1 (12) |
| 3 | 17 (9) | 10 (11) | 5 (8) | 1 (3) | 1 (12) |
| 4 | 5 (2) | 4 (4) | 1 (2) | — | — |
| 5 | 17 (9) | 10 (11) | 6 (10) | 1 (3) | — |
| Do not walk | 73 (37) | 27 (30) | 27 (45) | 18 (47) | 1 (12) |
| Transfer chair/wheelchair to bed | |||||
| Independent | 166 (85) | 74 (82) | 52 (87) | 32 (84) | 8 (100) |
| With support | 16 (8) | 6 (7) | 7 (11) | 3 (8) | — |
| Lift | 14 (7) | 10 (11) | 1 (2) | 3 (8) | — |
| Orthoses | |||||
| Insole | 27 (14) | 12 (13) | 7 (12) | 8 (21) | — |
| SMO | 2 (1) | 1 (1) | 1 (2) | — | — |
| AFO | 41 (21) | 22 (24) | 11 (18) | 6 (16) | 2 (25) |
| KAFO | 12 (5) | 11 (12) | 1 (2) | — | |
| Walking aids | 25 (13) | 8 (9) | 8 (13) | 6 (16) | 3 (38) |
| Cane/Crutches | 16 (8) | 4 (4) | 5 (8) | 2 (5) | 2 (28) |
| Walker | 9 (5) | 4 (4) | 3 (5) | 4 (11) | 1 (13) |
| Wheelchair | |||||
| Manual | 52 (27) | 22 (24) | 24 (40) | 4 (11) | 2 (28) |
| Powered | 4 (2) | 1 (1) | 1 (2) | 2 (5) | — |
| Manual and powered | 67 (34) | 32 (36) | 18 (30) | 16 (42) | 1 (13) |
Number (n), American spinal injury association impairment scale (AIS), Zone of partial preservation (sensory or motor) (ZPP).
Muscle function group (MF): MF 0: with no loss of muscle strength. MF I: with weakness in foot intrinsic muscles and plantar flexors, grades 4–5. MF II: with foot plantar flexion grade 3, knee flexion grade 3, hip extension and/or hip abduction, grades 2–3. MF III: with hip flexion and knee extension, grades 4–5, knee flexion, grade 3, and only traces of hip extension, hip abduction, and below‐knee muscles. MF IV: no knee extension activity, hip flexion (grade ≤ 2), fair or good pelvic elevation. MF V: no muscle activity in the lower limbs, no pelvic elevation.
Ambulatory function: 1 Community ambulation; 2 Community ambulation, wheelchair use only for long distances outdoors; 3 Household ambulation, wheelchair outdoors; 4 Household ambulation, wheelchair both in‐ and outdoors; 5 Nonfunctional ambulation, ambulation during therapy. Wheelchair for mobility.
Supra‐malleolar orthosis (SMO), ankle–foot orthosis (AFO), free‐articulated knee–ankle–foot orthosis (KAFO).