Background and Purpose: Goal setting is an important aspect of any
physical therapy program. It not only determines the focus of therapy
but also determines discharge planning and equipment prescription.
The effectiveness of goal setting is dependent on therapists’ ability
to predict patients’ future mobility. The purpose of this study was to
determine how accurately physical therapists can predict the future
mobility of people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) at the time of
admission to rehabilitation.
Methods: A cohort observational study was undertaken in 2 SCI
units in Sydney, Australia, where a consecutive series of 50 patients
admitted for rehabilitation was recruited. At the time of admission
to rehabilitation, treating therapists predicted each patient’s likely future
mobility. Therapists used standardized assessment scales that
captured ability to mobilize in a wheelchair, transfer, move in bed,
and walk. After 3 months of standard in-patient rehabilitation, patients
were reassessed by blinded assessors using the same scales.
Therapists’ predictions on admission were compared with patients’
outcomes at 3 months.
Results: There was a strong positive correlation between therapists’
predictions on admission and patients’ outcomes at 3 months
(r = 0.53-0.92). Therapists’ predictions were within 1 point of patient
outcomes between 60% and 78% of the time.
Discussion and Conclusion: Physical therapists are able to accurately
predict future mobility of people with SCI at the time of admission
to rehabilitation. Ability to accurately predict future mobility
is necessary for goal setting and for ensuring that therapy, discharge
planning, and equipment prescription are appropriate. These findings
are important because they indicate how much confidence patients,