Correlation between sitting balance and functional performance in complete paraplegics

Correlation study.

To determine the relationship between sitting balance and functional performance in complete paraplegics.

Rehabilitation department, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, New Delhi.

30 subjects with thoracic (T6–T12) spinal cord injury.

One standardized 1 inch *48 inch measurement scale, inch tape, stopwatch, a pair of shirt and waist pants.

The subjects were assigned to perform the task initially the sitting functional reach and followed by the functional activities (forward wheeling, transfers and upper and lower body dressing,). The reach values and the time consumed by subjects for the functional activities were documented.

Karl Pearson's Correlation Coefficient was used to find out the relationship between functional reach values and time taken to perform the activities (forward wheeling, transfers, upper body dressing and lower body dressing). A significant level of p < 0.05 was fixed.

A significant however low correlation was found when values of forward reach were compared with the time taken for forward wheeling(r = −0.3669). A non significant negative correlation (r = −0.3591) was found between forward reach and the total time taken for transfers. A significant high negative correlation (r = −0.6368) was found between forward reach and the total time taken for upper body dressing and undressing as well as between forward reach and the total time taken for lower body dressing and undressing (r = −0.8225).

Based on the results of this study, correlation between sitting balance and total time taken to perform upper body and lower body dressing and undressing was found to be significant. (Lower body < upper body) however this relationship was not found between sitting balance and the total time taken to perform forward wheeling and transfers.