Correlation Between Activities of Daily Living and Quality of Life among Individuals with Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury.

This cross-sectional study aims to explore the relationship between activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life (QOL) among individuals with thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI). Unlike cervical or lumbar SCI, thoracic-level injuries present unique challenges, as individuals often retain upper limb function but experience significant limitations in lower limb mobility, which may impact daily functioning and overall life satisfaction.

A total of 53 participants will be recruited through the Spinal Injured Persons Association (SIPA), Chennai. Eligible participants will be Tamil or English-speaking individuals with thoracic SCI for more than one year, with access to smartphones and internet connectivity. Data will be collected using Microsoft Forms in both English and Tamil. The assessment will involve two standardised tools:

• Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM IV) – to evaluate ADL performance.
• WHOQOL-BREF – to assess quality of life across physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains.

Descriptive and inferential statistical methods will be applied, including correlation analysis, t-tests, ANOVA, and non-parametric tests where applicable. Data analysis will be conducted using Jamovi software (version 2.3.28).

The study is expected to provide insights into how functional independence in daily living influences quality of life among individuals with thoracic SCI in the Indian cultural context. Findings may help guide rehabilitation strategies, improve client-centred care, and contribute to a better understanding of QOL determinants in this specific SCI population.