Your Patient Is a 19-Year-Old Woman Who Has Paraplegia Secondary

Your patient is a 19-year-old woman who has paraplegia secondary to a horseback riding accident. She is preparing to leave rehabilitation, and you are working with her on wheelchair skills. You want to teach her how to transfer from the chair to the floor and back. She does not understand why she should learn this skill. Which of the following is the best explanation to give her?

A) This transfer is good for your upper-body strength.
B) This transfer is good for lower-extremity stretching.
C) This transfer is important for functional independence.
D) This transfer is similar to bathtub transfers.