Life starts at home: bathing, exertion and participation for people with mobility impairment

Publication date: Available online 3 January 2018
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): Lillie Greiman, S. Parker Fleming, Bryce Ward, Andrew Myers, Craig Ravesloot
ObjectiveInvestigate the relationship between perceived exertion while bathing/dressing/grooming and associations with social -recreational activities outside the home for individuals with mobility impairment (MI).DesignWe use a two-study approach examining data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) and primary data from the Health and Home Survey (HHS). We explore the relationship between bathing/dressing/grooming and engagement in social-recreational activities and the role that exertion in the bathroom may play in participation in these activities.SettingGeneral community setting.ParticipantsFor the ATUS survey, participants include 6,002 individuals who report a MI. For the HHS we used two mail based recruitment methods to recruit a sample of 170 individuals with MI across three geographically diverse U.S. communities.Main Outcome MeasureParticipation in social and recreational activities.ResultsWe show that people with MI (relative to those without MI) are less likely to report spending any time bathing/dressing/grooming on a given day, but spend more time when they do. People with MI report higher exertion while bathing/dressing/grooming than people without. People with MI are less likely to leave the house or engage in social-recreational activities on days where they do not engage in bathing activities. People who report greater exertion in the bathroom engage in fewer social- recreational activities.ConclusionsExertion in the bathroom may present a barrier to participation indicating a relationship between exertion in the bathroom and social-recreational participation. Research that examines the impact of home modifications on exertion and participation is needed.



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