How various self-reported impairments influence walking ability in persons with late effects of polio.
BACKGROUND
Many persons with late effects of polio experience new or increased impairments, which can lead to walking limitations in daily life. No study has comprehensively analyzed how various self-reported impairments are associated with different aspects of self-reported walking limitations.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the associations between self-reported impairments and self-reported walking limitations in persons with late effects of polio.


METHODS
Three hundred and twenty-five persons (175 women and 150 men) with verified late effects of polio responded to the Self-reported Impairments in Persons with late effects of Polio (SIPP; 13-items) and to the Walking Impact Scale (Walk-12; 12 items).


RESULTS
The overall correlation (rho) between the total sum scores of the SIPP and the Walk-12 was 0.61 (p <  0.01). Of the 156 correlation coefficients (SIPP vs Walk-12), 151 (97% ) were significant at the 1% level. Self-reported muscle weakness, muscle fatigue, muscle and/or joint pain during physical activity and general fatigue had the strongest correlations (rho: 0.33 to 0.64) to the self-reported walking limitations, whereas memory difficulties, sleep disturbances and concentration difficulties had the weakest correlations (rho: 0.10 to 0.34).


CONCLUSIONS
There are weak to moderate associations between self-reported impairments and walking limitations in persons with late effects of polio. By limiting the impact of those impairments that are strongest associated with walking, clinicians may improve walking ability. However, the strength of the associations implies that other rehabilitation interventions should be considered for improving overall performance in daily activities related to walking.
Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.|Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Christina
C
Brogårdh
Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.|Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Jan
J
Lexell
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D057566:Self Report; D016138:Walking
Impairments; postpoliomyelitis syndrome; questionnaires; rehabilitation; walking