Article

This study examined the longitudinal changes in generic health-related quality of
life (QOL), prosthesis-related QOL, falls efficacy, and walking speed in men with
lower-limb amputations up to 6 months following discharge from rehabilitation.
Seven male unilateral transtibial amputees completed the Medical Outcomes Study
36-Item Short Form Health Survey, the Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire, and
the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale at 1, 3, and 6 months postdischarge from
rehabilitation. Walking speed was also recorded to objectively assess
participants' mobility. Health-related QOL measures displayed increases,
resulting in large effect sizes though not reaching statistical significance.
Prosthesis-related QOL measures indicated that scales relating to the
participants' prostheses improved and the support of significant others was the
most positively scored variable. Walking speed increased by 0.12 m/s, although it
was not significantly related to indices of QOL or falls efficacy. Falls efficacy
did not improve significantly during the study period, although it was strongly
related to QOL (p < 0.05). These results provide a novel insight into how QOL and
falls efficacy develop in people with lower-limb amputations, alongside changes
in mobility, after discharge from rehabilitation. Further improvements in
physical health following discharge may be required to elicit subsequent
increases in overall QOL and concurrent improvements in falls efficacy.

Langue : ANGLAIS