Physical ability in relation to anthropometric measurements in persons with complete spinal cord lesion below the sixth cervical segment

Abstract

A study was undertaken to determine the ability of patients with complete tetraplegia below cervical sixth segment to transfer in relation to their anthropometric characteristics. Thirty-six chronic patients were assessed and spasticity was measured. A discriminant function analysis was carried out to assess the extent to which a number of anthropometric and anatomical variables could predict the patients' final ability to effect a transfer. Using nine of the original 23 predictor variables it is possible to correctly classify a patient's eventual ability to transfer in 92% of cases.

The Sir Ludwig Guttmann Lecture 2012: the contribution of Stoke Mandeville Hospital to spinal cord injuries

“…Most of the developments in therapy are published in therapy literature, with which I am unfamiliar, but Stoke Mandeville's contributions consisted, among others, in a paper by Bergstrom et al 38 about the ability of patients with C6 lesions to transfer, the chapter in the Handbook of Clinical Neurology 'Physical rehabilitation: principles and outcome' by Bergstrom and Rose 39 and the book 'Tetraplegia and Paraplegia' edited by Ida Bromley, first published in 1976, currently on its sixth edition, 40 which is also known as 'the spinal physios' Bible' .…”

Assisted reach and transfers in individuals with tetraplegia: towards a solution

“…Yet, this has not been demonstrated in the experimental setting. 4 One method of bringing the shoulders closer to the supporting surface and thereby increasing the functional arm length is to¯ex forward. Although the individual¯exed further forward with the orthosis, the heights of the acromion processes were not signi®cantly di erent.…”

“…Such a notion would support inferences made by Bergstrom and co-workers. 4 Reaching The use of the orthosis increased the reaching capability of the individual with C5 quadriplegia.…”

“…Bergstrom and co-workers 4 demonstrated objectively a signi®cant di erence in fat mass, percentage body fat and the placement of the hand relative to the acromion process when attempting to lift between individuals with C6 tetraplegia who could and could not transfer. There was no di erence between the groups for functional arm length, sitting height, age or body mass.…”

Deltoid triceps transfer and functional independence of people with tetraplegia

“…In some cases, individuals can learn to modify their motor behaviour to best suit their physical capacities 1 and so realise further functional abilities: in particular, wheelchair propulsion, self feeding and sometimes, turning in bed, transfers and driving with hand controls. 2 Patients themselves regard improved upper limb function as a top priority in relation to other aspects of their disability. 3 Following a study of 29 tetraplegics, Welch et al 4 concluded that voluntary control of triceps was a signi®cant determinant in the ability to perform self care tasks.…”