Application of evidence based practice care for individuals with spinal cord injury with functional difficulties: Role of the occupational therapy practice guidelines

Abstract

Aim: The main purpose of this study is to provide valuable information to occupational therapist about the application of evidence based practice for spinal cord injury with functional ability difficulties.

Objective: To assess the functional ability. To evaluate the efficiency of an occupational therapy (EVBP) practice accommodating with physical medical rehabilitation, by evaluating the grade of functional independence reached by client with spinal cord injuries at second hospitalization.

Settings: Subjects selected from the spinal cord Unit of the Rehabilitation Institute of HAMSA (Trichy, India). Participants: Twenty-six-year male patient below age 30, with incomplete quadriplegia (ASIA-B) in C5level, at second hospitalization.

Methods: Prospective case study. An EVBP protocol was applied for thirty-two weeks, with one hour of per day. The study variables were quality of functional ability of the upper limb, recurrent use, participation of the upper limb in self-care and unstructured activities, active joint position, hand grasp–release action, hand grasp strength, supination and extension elbow movements. Four measurements were performed, using to measure the sensory assessment based on adult sensory profile-2

Results: Statistically significant differences were detected in all the studied variables (p < 0.001), between the pre-treatment and post–treatment sensory profile-2 results (32Week Spinal Cord Injury with Functional Difficulties s), except for upper limb dressing, putting on lower body dressing. In the 32 weeks, the changes were statistically significant, except for protective extension, grasp strength, grasp–release and all functional variables (level of functionality and participation of the patient’s upper limbs) in the FIM Evaluation p < 0.001.