Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine  2012;61(2):177-182

doi:10.7600/jspfsm.61.177

Health-Related Quality of Life in Active Persons with Spinal Cord Injury

Yumiko Miki ; Chihiro Kanayama ; Shiro Nakashima ; Masahiro Yamasaki

Keywords

spinal cord injury; health-related quality of life; activities of daily living; sports activity; residual function

Country

Japan

Language

English

Abstract

This study aims at identifying how sports activity status, level of residual function, and independence in activities of daily living (ADL) affect the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of persons with spinal cord injury (PSCI) who regularly participate in sports activities. Eighty-one male PSCI (21 persons with tetraplegia and 60 persons with paraplegia) who regularly participated in sports activities (wheelchair basketball or wheelchair twin basketball) were included in the present study. They were evaluated in terms of their characteristics, sports activity status, independence in ADL (Spinal Cord Independence Measure [SCIM]), and HRQOL (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 [SF-36]). The age was a significant explanatory variable for physical functioning, role physical, and physical component summary (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the level of residual function was a significant explanatory variable for general health, vitality, mental health, and mental component summary (P < 0.05). The physical aspects of HRQOL of PSCI who regularly participate in sports activities were mainly affected by age, whereas the mental aspects were affected by the level of residual function.