Wheelchair mobility, motor performance and participation of adult wheelchair users with ARSACS: a cross-sectional study.

This study provided the first data sets describing specific characteristics of manual and powered wheelchair users with ARSACS. It supports a need to offer wheelchair skills training interventions to adults with ARSACS, which could increase their daily and social participation.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONAdult wheelchair users with ARSACS present with limited wheelchair skills, significantly impaired motor performance, and reduced participation that generally decreases with age. This profile may serve as comparative data for clinicians to anticipate disease progression.This study provides the first data on distinguishing characteristics between PWC users and MWC users with ARSACS. The main characteristics of PWC users include more severe functional limitations and motor impairments, as well as limited grip strength that contrasts with the general preservation of this function among other adults with ARSACS.There is a need to offer and evaluate wheelchair skills training interventions in the future for adults with ARSACS. The general preservation of grip and pinch strength observed in this population suggests a potential for improvement. Considering the associations found between wheelchair mobility and participation, such interventions may increase users' daily and social participation.