- Used to quantify the mobility of individuals with SCI who use a wheelchair.
- Assesses motor tasks such as: moving from lying to sitting; completing a horizontal transfer; completing a vertical transfer; pushing a wheelchair on flat ground; pushing a wheelchair up/down ramps; and negotiating curbs in a wheelchair.
Clinical Considerations
- The results of the assessment tool summarize the basic level of wheelchair mobility of patients in a manner that is readily understood by other professionals.
- The tool was designed specifically for individuals with paraplegia who use a manual wheelchair.
ICF Domain
Activity – subcategory: Mobility.
Administration
- Clinician-administered; performance based assessment.
- For each task, subjects are scored on a six-point scale with 6 representing complete independence, and 1 representing total assistance. Patients must perform the tasks in the following order: Task 1) supine to long sitting; Task 2) horizontal transfer; Task 3) vertical transfer; Task 4) push on flat; Task 5) push on ramp; Task 6) negotiate curbs. For tasks 2 through 6, the patients are allowed three attempts with the best score recorded. If a task is not attempted, ‘not applicable’ is recorded.
Number of Items
6 tasks
Equipment
- A 25 meter hallway
- Cones
- A 15 meter ramp
- Curbs 2.5 cm and 15 cm high
Scoring
- Each task performed is rated from 1 (Independent) to 6 (Total Assistance). The score also takes into account performance time.
- Tasks 2 through 6 are scored using the best score out of up to 3 attempts. If a task is not attempted, ‘not applicable’ is recorded.
- Task scores are reported separately.
- The scores for each task are not meant to be added together to give an overall score. Rather, each task is given a score and interpretation is in relation to that specific task.
Languages
n/a
Training Required
None mentioned by authors, however administration by a trained physiotherapist is preferred.
Availability
n/a – Instructions for use tell you what is required to perform the test.
Measurement Property Summary
# of studies reporting psychometric properties: 1
Interpretability
MCID: not established in SCI
SEM: not established in SCI
MDC: not established in SCI
- Higher scores indicate greater independence.
- No norms or cut scores for the SCI population are available at this time.
Typical Values
Median (IQR) scores:
Task 1 – 6 (3.75 ± 6)
Task 2 – 6 (6 ± 6)
Task 3 – 3.5 (1 ± 6)
Task 4 – 5 (4.5 ± 5.25)
Task 5 – 5 (4.25 ± 5.0)
Task 6 – 3.5 (2 ± 5.25)
(Harvey et al. 1998; N=20 inpatients and outpatients; mixed injury types; median (IQR) time post-SCI = 9(2.5-18))
Reliability
Inter-rater reliability is High for the Tool for Assessing Mobility in Wheelchair-Dependent Paraplegics (Cohen’s Weighted Kappa=0.82-0.96).
When the data from the 6 tasks were compared, the 2 therapists’ scores were in perfect agreement 82% of the time, within one grade 17% of the time, within two grades 2% of the time, and never differed by three or more grades.
(Harvey et al. 1998; N=20 inpatients and outpatients; mixed injury types; median (IQR) time post-SCI = 9(2.5-18))
Number of studies reporting reliability data: 1
Number of studies reporting reliability data: 1
Number of studies reporting validity data: 0
Responsiveness
Not established in SCI.
Floor/ceiling effect:
Not established in SCI.
Reviewers
Dr. Bill Miller, Matthew Querée
Date Last Updated
26 July 2019
Harvey LA, Batty J, Fahey A. Reliability of a tool for assessing mobility in wheelchair-dependent paraplegics. Spinal Cord 1998;36:427-431.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9648200
