title: The influence of balance confidence on social activity after discharge from prosthetic rehabilitation for first lower limb amputation.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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 R(2) = 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.
authors.affiliation: GF Strong Rehabilitation Research Lab, Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. bcmiller@telus.net
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: A Barry
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Deathe
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000674:Amputees / Q000523:psychology*; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012931:Social Environment; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology