Independent dressing after spinal cord injury: a functional time evaluation.

Functional skill independence is generally defined as the ability to perform a functional task. The time required for completion, however, is usually not a major consideration. Postdischarge follow-up interviews indicated that patients do not always continue to perform all reacquired functional skills that were considered important rehabilitation goals. A pilot study was done to look at the skill of dressing independently to determine if time was a factor in the decision to retain, modify, or completely delegate this activity. Ten patients with C6-level quadriplegia, who were capable of self-dressing at discharge, participated in the study. They were timed for dressing at home. Although all ten patients were capable of dressing independently within one hour, none did so routinely. "Too much time and too much work" were the reasons stated. The implication is that a functional skill must be accomplished within the individual's concept of an appropriate time and/or energy framework in order to be considered truly functional.