Sports, recreation and employment following spinal cord injury : a pilot study

A pilot postal survey. To examine the levels of sporting/recreational activities, education and employment in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to assess if involvement in sport and recreation is associated with higher levels of education and employment. National Spinal Injuries Centre (NSIC), Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, UK. Forty-five subjects, who met the following criteria: SCI at level C5 or below, wheelchair dependent, aged between 18 and 50 at the time of injury, injured at least 10 years ago, admitted to the NSIC within 6 months of injury and resident in the UK, completed a 26-item postal questionnaire. Among the 45 subjects 47% participated in physical activities (20% in sport; 27% in recreation), 33% were employed (29% full-time) and 18.5% had undergone further education at the time of the survey. Participation in sports as well as employment status decreased after injury (P