The Impact of Online Group Wheelchair Mobility and Transfer Training on the Performance of People with Spinal Cord Injuries: A Superiority Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Online training for the rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) is essential. Various environmental barriers can make it challenging for individuals to attend face-to-face interventions. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of online group wheelchair mobility and transfer training on occupational performance and satisfaction in people with SCI. Methods: In this single-blind randomized controlled trial, individuals with SCI were recruited from SCI association hospitals and clinics, and randomly assigned to an online training group (OTG) or a control group (CG) using blocked randomization. The OTG participated in five online training sessions over five weeks, while the CG received routine guidance via an individual online booklet. Outcomes were assessed post-intervention and at one-month follow-up immediately to evaluate changes in occupational performance and satisfaction. Treatment efficacy and between-group comparisons were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: A total of 37 participants (CG = 18; OTG = 19) completed the 5-week intervention and follow-up assessments out of 49 enrolled. The mean age of participants was 35.0 years in the CG and 33.7 years in the OTG. Significant performance improvements (p < 0.001) and satisfaction (p < 0.001) were observed within the OTG during pre-post assessments. Additionally, significant differences between groups were found in both performance (p = 0.026) and satisfaction (p = 0.015). Conclusion: The findings indicate that online wheelchair mobility and transfer training is an effective and feasible method for telerehabilitation in people with SCI.