Comparing the causes, circumstances and consequences of falls across mobility statuses among individuals with spinal cord injury: A secondary analysis

Figures & data

Table 1. Participant demographics and injury characteristics

	Total sample			Fallers
	Individuals who ambulated full-time (n=30)	Individuals who used a wheelchair full-time (n=27)	Individuals who ambulated part-time (n=8)	Fallers who ambulated full-time (n=18)	Fallers who used a wheelchair full-time (n=13)	Fallers who ambulated part-time (n=7)	Comparison between mobility statuses of fallers
Mean age (SD) (years)	61.10 ± 12.80	50.33 ± 9.87	53.88 ± 17.23	59.94 ± 11.33	46.85 ± 10.88	53.57 ± 18.59	F=4.00 P=0.03
Male	20.00	13.00	7.00	13.00	5.00	6.00	χ2=5.57 P=0.06
Female	10.00	14.00	1.00	5.00	8.00	1.00
Median TSI (year), (IQR)	7.00 (9.50)	27.00 (16.00)	7.00 (31.50)	10.50 (22.75)	29.00 (20.00)	8.00 (34.00)	F=1.63 P=0.21
Neurological Level of Injury							χ2=3.11 P=0.21
Tetraplegia	22.00	14.00	5.00	12.00	5.00	5.00
Paraplegia	8.00	13.00	3.00	6.00	8.00	2.00
Motor complete (AIS A/B)	2.00	25.00	1.00	2.00	11.00	1.00	χ2=19.40 P<0.01
Motor incomplete (AIS C/D)	28.00	2.00	7.00	16.00	2.00	6.00

Legend: Neurological level of injury according to international standard neurological classification of spinal cord injury; AIS: American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale; TSI: Time Since Injury.

Figure 1 Kaplan-Meier curve for time to first fall. Participants who did not experience falls during the six-month period are reported as censored events.

Table 2 Fall circumstances by mobility status.

	Individuals who ambulated full-time (total number of falls: n = 78)	Individuals who used a wheelchair full-time (total number of falls: n = 22)	Individuals who ambulated part-time (total number of falls: n = 16)
Fall-related injuries n (% total falls)
Falls resulting in an injury	31 (39.74%)	8 (36.36%)	6 (37.50%)
Time of fall, n (% total falls)
Daytime (morning, afternoon; 6:00am – 5:00pm)	60 (76.92%)	9 (40.91%)	8 (50.00%)
Nighttime (evening, night; 5:01pm-5:59am)	18 (23.07%)	13 (59.09%)	8 (50.00%)
Location of fall, n (% total falls)
Home environment	47 (60.26%)	12 (54.55%)	13 (81.25%)
Community	31 (39.74%)	10 (45.45%)	3 (18.75%)

Table 3 Activity during a fall for individuals who ambulated full-time, used a wheelchair full-time and ambulated part-time.

Activity classification, n (% total falls)
Activity reported during fall n (%)	Individuals who ambulated full-time (total number of falls: n = 78)	Individuals who used a wheelchair full-time (total number of falls: n = 22)	Individuals who ambulated part-time (total number of falls: n = 16)
Getting in/out of bed, vehicle, or bath/shower	6 (7.69%)	6 (27.27%)	3 (18.75%)
Going over uneven ground	0 (0.00%)	4 (18.18%)	0 (0.00%)
Sports/exercise	1 (1.28%)	3 (13.64%)	1 (6.25%)
Changing positions	21 (26.92%)	3 (13.64%)	1 (6.25%)
Going through doorway	0 (0.00%)	1 (4.55%)	1 (6.25%)
Walking	36 (46.15%)	0 (0.00%)	4 (25.00%)
Going up or down an incline	0 (0.00%)	2 (9.09%)	0 (0.00%)
Assisted standing	0 (0.00%)	1 (4.55%)	0 (0.00%)
Dressing	2 (2.56%)	1 (4.55%)	0 (0.00%)
Opening drawer/door	1 (1.28%)	1 (4.55%)	0 (0.00%)
Walking up or down the stairs	4 (5.13%)	0 (0.00%)	1 (6.25%)
Standing	7 (8.97%)	0 (0.00%)	2 (12.50%)
Other (e.g. sleeping, taking a photo, driving a scooter)	0 (0.00%)	0 (0.00%)	3 (18.75%)

Table 4 Causes of falls experienced by individuals who ambulated full-time, used a wheelchair full-time and ambulated part-time.

Causes of falls, n (% total causes)
Factors perceived to cause falls n (%)	Individuals who ambulated full-time (A total of 213 factors perceived to cause 78 falls)	Individuals who used a wheelchair full-time (A total of 47 factors perceived to cause 22 falls)	Individuals who ambulated part-time (A total of 39 factors perceived to cause 16 falls total)
Poor balance	35 (16.43%)	4 (8.51%)	4 (10.26%)
Legs gave out	28 (13.15%)	0 (0.00%)	7 (17.95%)
Weakness in legs	25 (11.74%)	0 (0.00%)	6 (15.38%)
Other (e.g. new equipment, caregiver error, wet floor, spasm, swollen lower extremity)	21 (9.86%)	9 (19.15%)	5 (12.82%)
Doing more than one thing	12 (5.63%)	3 (6.38%)	3 (7.69%)
Tired	16 (7.51%)	2 (4.26%)	2 (5.13%)
Tripped	18 (8.45%)	4 (8.51%)	3 (7.69%)
Slipped	15 (7.04%)	2 (4.26%)	2 (5.13%)
Distracted	9 (4.23%)	5 (10.64%)	1 (2.56%)
Moving too quickly/rushing	11 (5.16%)	9 (19.15%)	2 (5.13%)
Dark/poorly lit environment/problems with vision	5 (2.35%)	3 (6.38%)	0 (0.00%)
Dizzy	2 (0.94%)	0 (0.00%)	1 (2.56%)
Spasm in leg(s)	3 (1.41%)	0 (0.00%)	2 (5.13%)
Not using mobility aid	3 (1.41%)	1 (2.13%)	1 (2.56%)
Weather	8 (3.76%)	2 (4.26%)	0 (0.00%)
“Don’t know”	2 (0.94%)	1 (2.13%)	0 (0.00%)
Alcohol	0 (0.00%)	1 (2.13%)	0 (0.00%)
Illness	0 (0.00%)	1 (2.13%)	0 (0.00%)