Abstract
Study design:
Cross-sectional study.
Objectives:
To assess the importance of proprioceptive and vision information on different types of wheelchair seats with regard to postural control in paraplegic individuals during static posture.
Setting:
Centre of Rehabilitation at the University Hospital/FMRP–USP and Rehabilitation Outpatient Clinic at University Hospital/UNICAMP, Brazil.
Methods:
This study involved 11 individuals with paraplegia. All individuals were submitted to an evaluation of static balance with their eyes open and closed in three different types of seats: wheelchair seat, foam seat and gel seat. Balance evaluation was performed by using the Polhemus system, in which body displacements and anteroposterior and mediolateral speeds were assessed in a static seated position in the different types of seats. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance. The differences were considered at P<0.05.
Results:
No statistical differences were found between the three types of seats in terms of displacements and anteroposterior and mediolateral speeds, or between seats with individuals keeping their eyes open or closed (P>0.05). However, it was observed that body displacements were more prominent toward an anteroposterior than a mediolateral direction.
Conclusion:
This study suggests that individuals with paraplegia tend to exhibit a more anteroposterior body displacement than a mediolateral one, with no significant differences between the types of seats in both situations of eyes open and closed.
Similar content being viewed by others
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
References
Minkel JL . Seating and mobility considerations for people with spinal cord injury. Phys Ther 2000; 20: 701–709.
Seelen HAM, Adam JJ, Drukker J, Spaans F, Huson A . Postural motor programming in paraplegic patients during rehabilitation. Ergonomics 1998; 41: 302–316.
Janssen-Potten YJ, Seelen HA, Drukker J, Huson T . The effect of seat tilting on pelvic position, balance control and compensatory postural muscle use in paraplegic subjects. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001; 82: 1393–1402.
Jassen-Potten YJ, Seelen HA, Drukker J, Spaans F, Drost M . The effect of footrests on sitting balance in paraplegic subjects. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2002; 83: 642–648.
Sinnott KA, Milburn P, McNaughton H . Factors associated with thoracic spinal cord injury, lesion level and rotator cuff disorder. Spinal Cord 2000; 38: 748–753.
Koo TKK, Mak AFT, Lee YL . Posture effect on seating interface biomechanics: comparison between two seating cushions. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1996; 77: 40–47.
Aissaoui R, Boucher C, Bourbonnais D, Lacoste M, Dansereau J . Effect of seat cushion on dynamic stability in sitting during a reaching task in wheelchair users with paraplegia. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001; 82: 274–281.
Gagnon D, Nadeau S, Noreau L, Eng JJ, Gravel D . Trunk and upper extremity kinematics during sitting pivot transfers performed by individuals with spinal cord injury. Clin Biomech 2008; 23: 279–290.
Aissaoui R, Boucher C, Bourbonnais D, Lacoste M, Dansereau J . Effect of seat cushion on dynamic stability in sitting during a reaching task in wheelchair users with paraplegia. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001; 82: 274–281.
Hastings JD, Fanucchi ER, Burns SP . Wheelchair configuration and postural alignment in persons with spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2003; 84: 528.
Cholewicki J, Polzhofer GK, Radebold A . Postural control of trunk during unstable sitting. J Biomech 2000; 33: 1733–1737.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank FAPESP (2007/54596-0) for the support provided.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Takara, K., Gaspar, M., Metring, N. et al. Evaluation of the influence of different types of seats on postural control in individuals with paraplegia. Spinal Cord 48, 825–827 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.2010.30
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.2010.30
