Published Paper Details:

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-altering condition that often leads to long-term physical, psychological, and social challenges. Among the various secondary complications associated with SCI, fatigue is one of the most commonly reported yet under-recognized symptoms. Persistent fatigue may negatively influence an individual's ability to participate in daily activities and may significantly affect their overall quality of life. Aim and Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of fatigue on participation and quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury living in Mumbai. Method: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 138 individuals diagnosed with spinal cord injury. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling. Fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Participation levels were evaluated using the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation-Participation (USER-P), and quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire. Functional independence was measured using the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM). Data were analysed using IBM SPSS software. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and correlation analysis was performed to determine the relationship between fatigue, participation, and quality of life. Results: The findings of the study indicated a high prevalence of fatigue among individuals with spinal cord injury. Higher fatigue levels were significantly associated with reduced participation and poorer quality of life across multiple domains. A moderate negative correlation was observed between fatigue severity and participation scores, as well as between fatigue and quality of life domains. Individuals reporting greater fatigue demonstrated lower functional independence and decreased engagement in social and daily activities. Conclusion: Fatigue has a significant negative impact on participation and quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury. The findings highlight the importance of assessing fatigue as a routine component of rehabilitation and implementing targeted interventions to manage fatigue in order to improve participation and overall well-being in this population.