Study Reports Custom-Fit Mobility Devices Reduce Falls

PITTSBURGH—Clinical investigators from the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) recently reported that different types of mobility devices and certain characteristics of people with limited mobility are associated with reported falls, according to their study.

The study, published in the journal “Disability & Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology,” analyzed more than 11,000 de-identified cases from the Functional Mobility Assessment and Uniform Dataset (FMA/UDS) registry, which is supported by U.S. Rehab, a division of VGM & Associates. The study analyzed people with mobility impairments who were seeking assessments for new mobility devices. It found 52% of the total sample reported at least one fall in the past three months, prior to their assessment for a new device, and almost half (47%) who reported a fall were using a walking aid or no device at all. Additionally, individuals with progressively acquired disabilities (i.e., Parkinson’s disease, osteoarthritis and cardiopulmonary disease) reported higher rates of falls than those with congenital disabilities (i.e., cerebral palsy and spina bifida). Fewer falls were also reported in individuals using custom-fitted manual wheelchairs and powered mobility devices.

“The findings from this study provide more evidence as to how properly fitted mobility devices matched to a person’s needs can contribute to the reduction of falls,” said Mark Schmeler, study co-author, occupational therapist at the FMA/UDS registry and associate professor at Pitt’s department of rehabilitation science and technology.

“The findings indicate earlier interventions for fall prevention, including professional wheelchair evaluations, may be warranted,” said Corey Morrow, lead study author, assistant professor at MUSC and occupational therapist. “However, further research will explore the long-term impact of properly prescribed mobility devices on falls.”

“I thank all members and clinical partners who are contributing to the registry, as large data and research is essential to advocate for the field of complex rehabilitation technology,” said Tyler Mahncke, president of U.S. Rehab.

The research article can be found at doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2024.2369654.