Effects of Audio Feedback on Sitting Behaviors of Community-Dwelling Manual Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injuries

Abstract

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate whether audio feedback obtained from a data logger could help community-dwelling manual wheelchair users (MWUs) to engage in pressure-relieving behaviors more frequently. Twenty community-dwelling MWUs completed the study. Data loggers with force sensors were installed on each participant's wheelchair. The frequency of pressure-relief activities and sitting time were recorded on two occasions one week apart with or without audio feedback. The results showed that MWUs spent approximately 9.2 hours per day sitting in their wheelchairs and performed an average of 5.1 transfers from their wheelchair. MWUs receiving audio feedback showed a significant increase in pressure-relieving activities, which included push-up frequency and side-to-side lean frequency with less uninterrupted sitting time. Although the audio alarm device served as a useful tool in promoting pressure-relieving behaviors, our subject population still showed low frequency of pressure-relief activities. This might indicate that other factors besides pressure may explain why our subjects are free from pressure ulcers. Educational materials should include not only information related to pressure but to other risk factors believed to contribute to the development of pressure sores.