The timed manual wheelchair slalom test: a reliable and accurate performance-based outcome measure for individuals with spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the timed manual wheelchair slalom test (MWST) and to quantify its test-retest reliability, standard error of measurement, and minimum detectable change (MDC).

DESIGN

Repeated-measures design.

SETTING

Pathokinesiology laboratory.

PARTICIPANTS

Manual wheelchair users (N=15) with spinal cord injury (SCI) (vertebral levels, C6 to T12; American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale: A, B, or C) participated in this study. Participants were 40.7±12.6 years of age, measured 1.77±.08m in height, weighed 79.6±23.9kg, and had been using a manual wheelchair as their primary mode of mobility for 5.9±7.5 years.

INTERVENTIONS

Participants propelled their own wheelchair at a self-selected maximum velocity along a slalom trajectory (linear length, 18m) defined by 7 cones aligned in a straight line and set 3m, 2m, and 1m apart from one another. Three trials (T=3) of the MWST were performed on 2 separate visits (V=2) 6.3±5.4 days apart. The generalizability theory was used to determine the reliability, standard error of measurement, and MDC and to propose testing protocols for the MWST.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The time needed to complete the MWST expressed in seconds.

RESULTS

All participants successfully completed the MWST. No adverse effect was reported. The time required to complete the MWST at visits 1 and 2 was 16.8±4.4 and 16.5±4.3 seconds, respectively. The reliability coefficient (φ=.981) and accuracy (standard error of measurement=3.47%, MDC=8.097%) were high when the time required for a participant to perform 3 MWST trials during a single visit (T=3, V=1) was averaged.

CONCLUSIONS

The timed MWST is a safe, reliable, and accurate performance-based outcome measure that can be administered easily and quickly in individuals with SCI who rely on a manually propelled wheelchair for mobility.