Wheelchair Mobility Skills in youth using a manual wheelchair: From Test to Training

MAIN FINDINGS
o The newly developed Utrecht Pediatric Wheelchair Mobility Skills Test (UP-WMST 2.0) is a reliable and valid outcome measure to assess WMS in youth using a manual wheelchair (chapter 2 and 3).
o The Wheelchair Mobility Confidence Scale Dutch Youth (WheelCon-Mobility Dutch Youth) has shown evidence towards validity and internal consistency for the assessment of confidence in wheelchair mobility in Dutch youth using a manual wheelchair (chapter 4).
o There is a low positive correlation between the WheelCon-Mobility Dutch Youth and the UP-WMST 2.0 (chapter 4). As there can be a discrepancy between WMS and the confidence in wheelchair mobility, it is important to assess both the WMS and the confidence in wheelchair mobility. Interventions can be targeted at improving WMS, confidence in wheelchair mobility or both.
o An activity monitor (Activ8), shows good initial validity to detect ‘active wheelchair use’ in youth using a manual wheelchair, using a combination of a sensor at the wrist and wheel (chapter 5).
o A combination of exercise and WMS training yielded significant positive long term effects on PA, WMS, confidence in wheelchair mobility and (an)aerobic performance in youth using a manual wheelchair (chapter 6). There was no significant long term effect on cardiorespiratory fitness.