Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To provide validation of functional ability levels for the Spinal Cord Injury - Functional Index (SCI-FI). DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation hospital and community settings. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 855 individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury enrolled in 6 rehabilitation centers participating in the National Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Network. INTERVENTIONS: Not Applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Spinal Cord Injury-Functional Index (SCI-FI). RESULTS: Cluster analyses identified three distinct groups that represent low, mid-range and high SCI-FI functional ability levels. Comparison of clusters on personal and other injury characteristics suggested some significant differences between groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results strongly support the use of SCI-FI functional ability levels to document the perceived functional abilities of persons with SCI. Results of the cluster analysis suggest that the SCI-FI functional ability levels capture function by injury characteristics. Clinical implications regarding tracking functional activity trajectories during follow-up visits are discussed.