Clinical features of electric powered indoor/outdoor wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries: A cross-sectional study.

This article aims to describe the characteristics of those with a primary diagnosis of spinal cord injury (SCI) attending a specialist wheelchair service providing electric powered indoor/outdoor chairs (EPIOCs). This cross-sectional study, with retrospective review of electronic and case note records, explores the complexities of additional clinical features associated with SCI and disability influencing prescription. Data were extracted under three themes; demographics, diagnostic/clinical information and wheelchair factors.

Clinical features of children and adults with a muscular dystrophy using powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs: disease features, comorbidities and complications of disability.

Purpose: To describe the clinical features of electric powered indoor/outdoor wheelchair users with a muscular dystrophy, likely to influence optimal prescription; reflecting features of muscular dystrophies, conditions secondary to disability, and comorbidities impacting on equipment provision.

Methods: Cross-sectional retrospective case note review of recipients of electric powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs provided by a specialist regional wheelchair service. Data on demography, diagnostic/clinical, and wheelchair prescription were systematically extracted.

Problematic clinical features of children and adults with cerebral palsy who use electric powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs: A cross-sectional study.

This article aims to describe the clinical features of electric powered indoor/outdoor wheelchair (EPIOC) users with cerebral palsy (CP) that are problematic to optimal prescription and to explore comorbidities, features of CP, and conditions secondary to disability impacting on equipment provision for children and adults. The method is a cross-sectional study of EPIOC users (n = 102) with a primary diagnosis of CP. This is a retrospective review of electronic and case note records of EPIOC recipients attending a specialist wheelchair service in 2007-2008.

Rare diseases: matching wheelchair users with rare metabolic, neuromuscular or neurological disorders to electric powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs (EPIOCs).

Purpose: To describe the clinical features of electric powered indoor/outdoor wheelchair (EPIOC) users with rare diseases (RD) impacting on EPIOC provision and seating.

Method: Retrospective review by a consultant in rehabilitation medicine of electronic and case note records of EPIOC recipients with RDs attending a specialist wheelchair service between June 2007 and September 2008. Data were systematically extracted, entered into a database and analysed under three themes; demographic, diagnostic/clinical (including comorbidity and associated clinical features (ACFs) of the illness/disability) and wheelchair factors.

Assessing pain intensity following spinal cord injury: should rating scales measure 'overall' or 'maximal' values?

Rating scales (RSs) are important for the assessment of pain intensity (PI) following a spinal cord injury (SCI). Using a Graphic Rating Scale, this pilot study measured an 'overall' level of PI repeated about every 2 h over 1 day and compared it with maximal PI scores reported previously. Patients were categorized into severity groups according to the overall Graphic Rating Scale score at initial assessment (T0).

Problematic clinical features of powered wheelchair users with severely disabling multiple sclerosis.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to describe the clinical features of powered wheelchair users with severely disabling multiple sclerosis (MS) and explore the problematic clinical features influencing prescription.

Method: Retrospective review of electronic and case note records of recipients of electric-powered indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs (EPIOCs) attending a specialist wheelchair service between June 2007 and September 2008. Records were reviewed by a consultant in rehabilitation medicine, data systematically extracted and entered into a computer database.

Recipients of electric-powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs provided by a national health service: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To describe the characteristics across all ages of powered wheelchair users and the assistive technology prescribed by a regional specialist wheelchair service.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Regional wheelchair service.

Pain management following new and long-standing spinal cord injury: a pilot study of changes in pain intensity experienced during the day.

The aim of the study was to examine variations in pain intensity during the day experienced by patients with spinal cord injury. Fourteen consecutive patients had clinical and demographic data recorded. Pain intensity was recorded using a Graphic Rating Scale (GRS) at 2-3-h intervals.

Attitudes of patients toward adoption of 3D technology in pain assessment: qualitative perspective.

Background: Past research has revealed that insufficient pain assessment could, and often, has negative implications on the provision of quality health care. While current available clinical approaches have proven to be valid interventions, they are expensive and can often fail in providing efficient pain measurements. The increase in the prevalence of pain calls for more intuitive pain assessment solutions.

An interactive 3-D application for pain management: Results from a pilot study in spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

Research on pain following spinal cord injury (SCI) has revealed that patients not only experience several types of pain that could prove to be challenging to address, but also that each individual can interpret such pain in different subjective ways. In this paper we introduce a 3-D system for facilitating the efficient management of pain, and thus, supporting clinicians in overcoming the aforementioned challenges. This system was evaluated by a cohort of 15 SCI patients in a pilot study that took place between July and October 2010.

The pain experiences of powered wheelchair users.

Purpose: To explore the experience of pain and discomfort in users of electric-powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs (EPIOCs) provided by a National Health Service.

Methods: EPIOC users receiving their chair between February and November 2002 (N = 74) were invited to participate in a telephone questionnaire/interview and 64 (aged 10-81 years) agreed. Both specific and open-ended questions examined the presence of pain/discomfort, its severity, minimizing and aggravating factors, particularly in relation to the EPIOC and its use.

Patients' experiences of the impact of chronic back pain on family life and work.

Purpose: The emotional distress caused by pain is one of the most disruptive aspects of living with the condition. This study investigates how individuals experience pain and its consequences for family life and work.

Method: Unstructured interviews, using the 'Framework' approach with topic guide, were recorded and transcribed.

Electric powered wheelchairs for those with muscular dystrophy: problems of posture, pain and deformity.

Purpose: To identify areas of difficulty encountered by a regional wheelchair service in providing Electric Powered Indoor/outdoor wheelchairs (EPIOCs) to those with muscular dystrophy (MD) in the early years of their provision--particularly posture, pain and deformity.

Method: Wheelchair service records of all users between April 1997 and March 2000 were reviewed retrospectively and issues relating to weakness, pain/discomfort, deformities, other medical issues, weight change, function, posture and driving were documented on a purpose-designed proforma. Adjustments and modifications were documented over the 2-year period following chair delivery.

Visualization of back pain data--a 3-D solution.

Traditional approaches to gathering and visualizing pain data rely on two-dimensional (2-D) human body models, where different types of sensation are recorded with various monochrome symbols. We propose an alternative that uses a three-dimensional (3-D) representation of the human body, which can be marked in color to visualize and record pain data.

Young people's experiences using electric powered indoor - outdoor wheelchairs (EPIOCs): potential for enhancing users' development?

Purpose: To examine the experiences of severely physically disabled young people who use electric powered indoor - outdoor chairs (EPIOCs).

Methods: A priori interview questions examined young people's functioning with EPIOCs, pain and discomfort with EPIOC use and accidents or injuries resulting from EPIOC use. Eighteen young people (13 males and five females) aged 10 - 18 (mean 15) years were interviewed by telephone using a qualitative framework approach.

Experiences of living with chronic back pain: the physical disabilities.

Purpose: Back-related functional limitations are largely assessed using lists of activities, each scored on a yes/no basis and the scores then summed. This provides little information about how chronic back pain (CBP) patients live with their condition. This study describes the consequences of living day-to-day with CBP and documents the 'insider' accounts of its impact on daily life.

Older adults' use of, and satisfaction with, electric powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs.

Background: Research documenting the experiences of electric powered indoor/outdoor wheelchair (EPIOC) users has generally failed to take into account the specific needs and concerns of older adults. This study sought to qualitatively examine the older EPIOC users' satisfaction with the chair and service providers.

Method: Eight women and nine men aged between 60 and 81 (mean 69) years were recruited through a specialist wheelchair service database.