WHEELCHAIR USERS EXPERIENCE OF NON-ADAPTED AND ADAPTED CLOTHES DURINGSAILING, QUAD RUGBY OR WHEEL-WALKING

The purpose of the present quasi-experimental post-test-design study w as to compare 32 wheelchair users' (mostly para/tetraplegics) experien ce of wearing specially adapted clothes and non-adapted clothes for sa iling, quad rugby or wheel-walking. Four existing assessment instrumen ts were used:the Klein-Bell Activities of Daily Living Scale; a two-pa rt Basic Information Questionnaire eliciting experience of effort, com fort and feeling of physical condition; the Experience Sampling Form f or investigating the individuals' attitudes in terms of involvement an d affective and activity mood states, and the Occupational Therapy Ass essment of Leisure Time interview framework for collecting data about experience of leisure time. The wheelchair users all associated signif icantly greater comfort with use of the adapted clothes and, particula rly the 'sailors', better physical condition. Overall, significantly g reater involvement and more positive affect states were associated wit h the adapted clothes than with conventional garments, and mood state changed for the better. The wheelchair users set a higher priority upo n work or leisure activities than upon independence in activities of d aily living, and for this reason the Klein-Bell ratings showed great v ariation between the 'sailors' and the 'quad rugby players' (range 57 %-93 %), though these groups demonstrated more independence than the ' wheel-walkers'. The results of the study confirm the value of adapting sportswear for handicapped people. Such adaptations should also be of benefit for other activities than those studied.