A physical therapist wants to assess participation restriction in a patient with chronic SCI across domains including physical independence, mobility, occupation, social integration, and economic self-sufficiency. Which outcome measure is MOST appropriate?

A physical therapist wants to assess participation restriction in a patient with chronic SCI across domains including physical independence, mobility, occupation, social integration, and economic self-sufficiency. Which outcome measure is MOST appropriate?

• A. SCIM
• B. CHART (Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique)
• C. Berg Balance Scale (BBS)
• D. 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT)

Answer: (B)

Measuring participation in daily life requires an instrument that specifically captures how disability limits involvement across multiple life roles. The Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART) is designed to quantify participation restrictions across domains such as physical independence, mobility, occupation, social integration, and economic self-sufficiency. It’s a patient-reported measure that reflects actual engagement in real-life situations, not just what a person can do in a clinic or the level of impairment. Other options focus on different constructs. The Spinal Cord Independence Measure emphasizes independence in self-care and mobility tasks, which is about capacity for tasks rather than participation across life domains. The Berg Balance Scale is a performance test of balance, not participation. The 10-Meter Walk Test measures gait speed, a single mobility metric, not broader participation. Since the goal is to assess participation restriction across multiple life domains in chronic SCI, CHART is the most appropriate choice.

Measuring participation in daily life requires an instrument that specifically captures how disability limits involvement across multiple life roles. The Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART) is designed to quantify participation restrictions across domains such as physical independence, mobility, occupation, social integration, and economic self-sufficiency. It’s a patient-reported measure that reflects actual engagement in real-life situations, not just what a person can do in a clinic or the level of impairment.

Other options focus on different constructs. The Spinal Cord Independence Measure emphasizes independence in self-care and mobility tasks, which is about capacity for tasks rather than participation across life domains. The Berg Balance Scale is a performance test of balance, not participation. The 10-Meter Walk Test measures gait speed, a single mobility metric, not broader participation. Since the goal is to assess participation restriction across multiple life domains in chronic SCI, CHART is the most appropriate choice.