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Research and journal articles

Our team have found the following journal articles interesting. Let us know if you have found a good article and we'll add it to this list.

White papers

Want to learn more about power assist? Permobil have recently released a new white paper, a systematic review of the evidence on power assist devices. 

View information about the power assist review and download a copy (external website)

Journal articles

Fracture characteristics by age, sex, and ambulatory status among individuals with cerebral palsy: a descriptive study

A study that looked at the medical records of those with a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy and had presented with a fracture.  This study highlighted not only the effect of GMFCS level on fracture risk and location, but also the effect of age and gender.  Those classified as GMFCS I-III were more likely to fracture from higher energy of functionally complex activities, while those classified as GMFCS IV-V were more likely to sustain a fracture during a wheelchair transfer as it is discovered as an incidental finding.  Children, those classified as GMFCS IV-V and females were more likely to have a distal femur fracture, whereas adults were more likely to present with a foot/ankle fracture. 

This study reinforces the need for a multifactorial approach to fracture prevention in those with long term mobility challenges.

Kannikeswaran (external website) , S., French (external website) , Z.P., K., Swallow (external website)   , J., Caird (external website) , M.S. & Whitney (external website) , D.G. (2022) Fracture characteristics by age, sex, and ambulatory status among individuals with cerebral palsy: a descriptive study. Disabil Rehabil. 44(17): 4806-4812. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1921860

Bone Mineral Density at the Distal Femur and Proximal Tibia and Related Factors During the First Year of Spinal Cord Injury

Study that looked at the changes in bone mineral density (BMD) at the distal femur and proximal tibia (common fracture sites for wheelchair users) during the first year post spinal cord injury (SCI). Followed 36 people within 12 months of their SCI at a rehabilitation research centre in China. Interesting to note that the majority of people were also found to have a vitamin D deficiency at the start of the study.  Results showed a link between age and vitamin D levels were influencing factors of BMD at the distal femur and age and gender influenced BMD at the proximal tibia, and no significant differences in BMD were found between those with a complete SCI and incomplete SCI. Overall the study found a rapid bone loss rate after SCI, a rate that was ‘higher than that of postmenopausal osteoporosis, long-term bed rest, and space flight induced SCI.  Overall the fracture risk for those post SCI is twice that of the general population, with fracture risk increasing with age and time since injury.

Zheng, X., Qi, Y., Zhou, H., Kang, H., Tong, Y. & Bi, L. (2021) Bone Mineral Density at the Distal Femur and Proximal Tibia and Related Factors During the First Year of Spinal Cord Injury. Int J Gen Med 26(14) 14:1121-1129. DOI: 10.2147/IJGM.S297660 (external website)