Interference of different types of seats on postural control system during a forward-reaching task in individuals with paraplegia

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>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<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.

Current state of balance assessment during transferring, sitting, standing and walking activities for the spinal cord injured population: A systematic review

“…stabilization and destabilization forces) measures of forces or torques were used to assess balance during sitting, 40,54,55 walking, 20,56,57 and transfers. 58 Some biomechanical groupings captured balance during a single activity: Instrumented reaching distance, 59,60 reaction/movement time, 61,62 damping factor, 63 and trunk stiffness 64 were utilized to assess balance during sitting, and mainly in individuals with motor complete injuries. Instrumented gait variables and linear momentum were utilized to capture balance during walking 42,44,65 and transfers, 50 respectively.…”

Characterizing Postural Stability in a Quasi-Static Sitting Position among Individuals with Sensorimotor Impairments Following Spinal Cord Injury

“…The effect of the cushion type on postural control is inconsistent in literature [22,23]. Therefore, different cushions were tested among individuals with SCI and able-bodied adults previously to the present study and no significant difference in COP measures were found.…”

Evaluation of pelvis postural systems in spinal cord injury patients: Outcome research

“…The sample of patients, we have considered in our study, are suffering by SCI with a lesion below the cervical spine. 13 Since different seats influence the balance of the patients with SCI, determining deficit of the postural control, 14 we selected various pelvic postural positioning systems to determine their effectiveness for comfort and stability of the patient.…”