RESUMO
This study aims at identifying how sports activity status, level of residual function, and independence in activities of daily living (ADL) affect the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of persons with spinal cord injury (PSCI) who regularly participate in sports activities. Eighty-one male PSCI (21 persons with tetraplegia and 60 persons with paraplegia) who regularly participated in sports activities (wheelchair basketball or wheelchair twin basketball) were included in the present study. They were evaluated in terms of their characteristics, sports activity status, independence in ADL (Spinal Cord Independence Measure [SCIM]), and HRQOL (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 [SF-36]). The age was a significant explanatory variable for physical functioning, role physical, and physical component summary (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the level of residual function was a significant explanatory variable for general health, vitality, mental health, and mental component summary (P < 0.05). The physical aspects of HRQOL of PSCI who regularly participate in sports activities were mainly affected by age, whereas the mental aspects were affected by the level of residual function.