title: Soccer practice and functional and social performance of men with lower limb amputations.
abstract: Practicing sports together with rehabilitative treatment improves the development of motor, social and emotional abilities of lower limb amputees. The aim of this study was to compare the functional and social performance of individuals with lower limb amputations between those who played soccer and those who did not engage in any sports activities. A total of 138 individuals participated in the study and were divided into two groups: soccer players (n = 69, 34 ± 8.1 years) and non-athletes (n = 69, 38 ± 8.9 years). A checklist, based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, was used. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests. The soccer players group showed significantly better performance than the non-athletes group in most items of body function, body structure, occupational performance components and daily activities (p < 0.001 for all), and also in some important items of social and environment factors (p < 0.001 for all). The results strongly suggest that amputee soccer significantly improves the functional and social performance in individuals with lower limb amputations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, Pará State University, Belém, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rogeria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, São Paulo University at Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luzia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Institute, Belém, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Research Center in Sport Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sousa
keywords: amputee soccer; disability and health; international classification of functionality; occupational performance