The influence of balance confidence on social activity after discharge from prosthetic rehabilitation for first lower limb amputation
Background: Community living individuals with lower limb amputation have low balance confidence but the level of balance confidence in the first six months after discharge from prosthetic rehabilitation is not known.Objectives: To determine if balance confidence levels differ after discharge from prosthetic rehabilitation and to determine if balance confidence at discharge predicts social activity at three months post-discharge while controlling for important covariates such as walking ability.Study Design: Prospective study.Methods: Subjects ( n = 65) experiencing their first unilateral transfemoral or transtibial amputation were recruited and followed-up one and three months post-discharge. Measures of balance confidence (Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale) and walking ability (L Test) collected at discharge were used to predict social activity (Frenchay Activities Index) at follow-up.Results: Despite a 14-second mean improvement in walking ability the mean balance confidence scores did not change significantly between discharge (71.2/100) and at three-month follow-up (69.4/100). Confidence scores and basic walking ability at discharge were the two strongest predictors of three-month social activity. Multiple regression modelling indicated that balance confidence and walking ability explained 64% of the variance (standardized beta = 0.34 and -0.37 respectively) in social activity (adjusted R2 = 39%).Conclusions: Balance confidence after discharge from prosthetic rehabilitation for lower limb amputation is low and scores do not improve over the first three months post-discharge despite improvements in walking ability. Discharge balance scores confidence independently predicts three-month social activity scores.