Impact of of wheelchair use on quality of life

Are you ready for a wheelchair? It may just improve your QoL. #MSBlog #MSResearch

"MSers fight reaching disability milestones that require walking aids; splints, sticks, crutches, frames, wheelchairs. This is not surprising as it is an open acknowledgement that your MS is progressing. By fighting it you are saying this disease is not going to beat me. However, once you accede and get the aid, things improve. A recent example of this week was a lady who walked into my clinic this week with a near normal gait; 3 months ago she was dragging her right foot and having frequent falls. She has just been fitted with a FES (functional electrical stimulator) to treat her dropped foot; a wonderful result. I am therefore not surprised with the study below that shows that when MSers start using a wheelchair their quality of life improves. The effort of walking prior to using a wheelchair can be very exhausting; the mental and physical energy it takes some MSers to walk is extraordinary. Not to mention of the anxiety of doing it. Will I get there? Will I fall? Getting into a wheelchair overcomes this and often increases, rather than decreases, your mobility. It also speeds up mobility; getting from point A to B now takes seconds rather than minutes and the energy expenditure to do so plummets. This also helps your family and friend by makes it easier for them to help you. If you haven't watched it yet I would recommend watching Belong a movie by Shift.ms about MSers getting beyond the diagnostic stage; there is a very telling wheelchair moment in the video that captures a lot of what I am trying to get accross."


Devitt et al. The effect of wheelchair use on the quality of life of persons with multiple sclerosis. Occup Ther Health Care. 2004;17(3-4):63-79.

Background: This study describes the effect of wheelchair use on the quality of life of MSers, and examines the clinical utility of the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) as an outcome measure for use by occupational therapists. 


Methods: Sixteen hospitalized adult MSers were interviewed using the PIADS. Descriptive comparisons of PIADS subscale scores (competence, adaptability, self-esteem) were conducted for participants using different types of wheelchairs, daily versus non-daily wheelchair users, and participants who required different levels of assistance to propel their wheelchairs. 

Results: Using a wheelchair has a positive impact on the quality of life of persons with MS. The PIADS was found to be clinically useful for exploring person-environment interactions and appears to be well suited to the goals and values of occupational therapy. 

Conclusions: The paper makes recommendations for future research and for incorporating the PIADS into occupational therapy practice are discussed.

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