Effect of Motorized Scooters on Physical Performance and Mobility: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract 

Hoenig H, Pieper C, Branch LG, Cohen HJ. Effect of motorized scooters on physical performance and mobility: a randomized clinical trial.

Objective

To investigate the effects of providing a motorized scooter on physical performance and mobility.

Design

Randomized clinical trial comparing scooter users with usual care.

Setting

One academic and 1 Veterans Affairs medical center.

Participants

Ambulatory, community-dwelling outpatients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis of the knee.

Intervention

Provision of a motorized scooter for 3 months.

Main Outcome Measures

Six-minute walk distance (6MWD) and mobility methods in diverse locations at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months, and accidents while using the scooter.

Results

The majority of scooter subjects (n=16/22 [72.7%]) used the scooter 4 or more days per week. The difference ± standard deviation between the 2 groups in change in 6MWD over the study period was not statistically significant (scooter users, 16.9±73.0m [55.5±239.6ft]; usual care, 17.2±72.5m [56.5±238.0ft], P=.55). Four (18.1%) scooter users reported 9 accidents. Over the study period, the proportion of persons reporting use of a scooter (provided by the study or otherwise available) increased in the scooter-users group (eg, food stores, 16.7% to 52.6%; doctor’s office, 0% to 35.7%) but not the usual-care group (food stores, 9.1% to 9.5%; doctor’s office, 0% to 0%).

Conclusions

Motorized scooters provided to ambulatory persons with arthritis were used intermittently. The greatest short-term risk from scooter usage appeared to be minor collisions.

Key Words: Activities of daily living, Assistive technology, Bedrest, Cardiovascular deconditioning, Durable medical equipment, Exercise, Mobility limitation, Occupational therapy, Osteoarthritis, Outcome and process assessment, Physical therapy, Randomized controlled trials, Rehabilitation, Residential mobility, Rheumatoid arthritis, Walking, Wheelchairs