Evaluation of an occupational therapy program for patients with spinal cord injury

Study design: Clinical controlled trial. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of an occupational therapy (OT) program combined with neuromotor rehabilitation, by assessing the degree of functional independence reached by patients with spinal cord injuries at first hospitalization. Settings: Subjects selected from the Spinal Cord Unit of the Rehabilitation Institute of Montecatone (Imola, Italy). Participants: Thirty-six male patients below age 60, with complete paraplegia (ASIA-A) in thoracic-lumbar level, at first hospitalization. Methods: Patients were divided into experimental and control groups. Subjects in the experimental group underwent neuromotor rehabilitation coupled with an OT program, whereas those in the control group followed neuromotor rehabilitation only. Increase in functional independence at discharge was evaluated by the Valutazione Funzionale Mielolesi (VFM) assessment scale. Results: Patients in the experimental group showed a significant increase in the total VFM score, and in domains concerning transfers and wheelchair use. A significant improvement was observed in unmarried patients as compared to married ones. Conclusion: An OT service within a Spinal Cord Unit allows us to achieve a higher level of functional independence. © 2008 International Spinal Cord Society All rights reserved.