Outdoor mobility and driving among persons living with spinal cord injury in Sweden: a cross-sectional study

Persons living with spinal cord injury (SCI) often lacks access to outdoor mobility, which can significantly impact their ability to participate in activities outside the home, to take part in their community, and to have meaningful occupations and relationships with loved ones.

To better understand the importance of outdoor mobility for persons with SCI, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore transport modes, car adaptations, and their perceived function and safety.

A web-survey, addressing outdoor mobility and driving, was distributed among people with different physical impairments. Of 274 responses, a total of 93 reported living with SCI and were selected for this study.

Public transportation was often underutilized due to inaccessibility and distance. In total, 88 persons (95%) owned a car. Almost everyone used their car weekly (97%) and the annual average driving distance was 17,400 km (SD 22,820 km). Most of the car owners had a station wagon (63%) or van/minibus (27%) and larger vehicles were more common among those needing extensive adaptations (p = 0.014).

The results corroborate earlier findings on public transport for persons living with SCI and the importance of their having a suitably modified vehicle. The results also offer insights into outdoor mobility and car driving among persons with SCI in Sweden that can support accessibility planning and promote innovations in transport options. Persons living with SCI and other physical impairments could benefit from a comprehensive, national-level knowledge base that encompasses outdoor mobility and car adaptations and their implications for these populations.