Activity and participation after spinal cord injury: state-of-the-art report

The importance of activities and community participation for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) has been recognized for decades and yet theoretical and empirical advances have been limited. This report summarizes the recommendations for researchers on the topic of measuring activity and participation among persons with SCI formulated by the Spinal Cord Injury workgroup at the State-of-the-Art Conference on Outcome Measures in Rehabilitation held in January 2010. Activity and participation were defined as independent constructs ideally measured in reference to personal values and environmental influences. Measures of activity, participation, and factors influencing activity and participation are reviewed and critiqued. Gaps in available measures are described, measures in development are discussed, and suggestions for future research are made.