Trunk Balance and Functional Independence in Individuals With SCI

Investigation of the Relationship Between Trunk Balance and Trunk Position Sense, Wheelchair Skills and Functional Independence in Individuals With Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury

This study investigates the relationship between trunk balance, position sense, wheelchair skills, and functional independence in individuals with thoracic spinal cord injury. It aims to understand how these factors interact and influence daily activities and overall quality of life.

Sitting balance and wheelchair transfer activities are crucial for non-ambulatory spinal cord injury (SCI) patients to be able to perform activities of daily living. In addition, a comprehensive assessment of trunk balance is recommended in the literature to predict the risk of falls in these patients and to determine their functional independence. However, no study was found in the literature that included only patients with thoracic level involvement in terms of parameters such as trunk balance, fall risk, postural control abilities, functional activity and independence, which are closely related to the level of injury in patients with SCI. There is a need for a comprehensive evaluation of the patient in terms of trunk control and trunk balance, especially after a SCI defined in the thoracic segment of the medulla spinalis. In this study, male and female individuals between the ages of 18-65 years with SCI with thoracic level involvement who continue their routine treatment at the Neurological Rehabilitation Unit of Afyonkarahisar University of Health Sciences Health Application Center Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation will be included. The aim of the study is to examine the relationship between trunk balance, trunk position sense, wheelchair skills and functional independence status of the participants. The findings to be obtained after the study will be analyzed in patients with SCI at the thoracic level.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being diagnosed with traumatic or nontraumatic spinal cord injury,
• Having a thoracic injury level (T1-T12),
• At least 6 months have passed since the SKY injury,
• To have 90 degrees of shoulder flexion and abduction in both upper extremities,
• Be over 18 years of age,
• To be able to sit in a wheelchair without support and use a manual wheelchair independently,
• Volunteering to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having a systemic disease,
• Report a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease,
• Report musculoskeletal pain or pathology involving the upper extremity,
• Patients with intracardiac defibrillators,
• Presence of open wound.