Adults with spina bifida: ambulatory performance and cognitive capacity in relation to muscle function

• Published in: Spinal cord 2022-02, Vol.60 (2), p.122-128
• Main Authors: Bendt, Martina, Seiger, Åke, Hagman, Göran, Hultling, Claes, Franzén, Erika, Forslund, Emelie Butler
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 692/617/375; 692/617/375/1824; Adult; Adults; Anatomy; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cognition; Cognitive ability; Cognitive tasks; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Human Physiology; Humans; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Mobility; Muscle function; Muscles; Neurochemistry; Neuropsychology; Neurosciences; Regression analysis; Scoliosis; Spina bifida; Spinal cord; Spinal Cord Injuries - complications; Spinal Dysraphism - complications; Wheelchairs
• ISSN: 1362-4393; 1476-5624; 1476-5624
• DOI: 10.1038/s41393-021-00658-w

Study design Cross-sectional study. Objective Describe and compare ambulatory performance and cognitive capacity in relation to muscle function in an adult cohort with spina bifida. Also, explore factors associated with ambulation in participants with muscle function level 3. Setting Specialist clinic for adults with spinal cord disorders in Stockholm, Sweden. Methods A total regional cohort of adults ( n  = 219) with spina bifida was invited, 196 (104 women, mean age 35 years, SD 13 years) participated. Mode of mobility, cognitive capacity and muscle function were investigated. For participants with muscle function level 3, factors associated with ambulation were investigated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results In all, 84 participants (42%) were community ambulators, 22 (12%) household ambulators and 90 (46%) wheelchair users. There was a linear association between the lower degree of muscle function and scoliosis ( P