Abstract
Purpose: This study investigated differences in impairment, activity limitation, participation restrictions and psychological distress between participants using ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) as recommended, participants who did not use AFOs as recommended and participants who did not know recommendations for use. Method: Adults (n = 157) fitted with an AFO by an NHS Orthotic Service in Scotland completed a postal questionnaire that measured impairment, activity limitations participation restrictions and psychological distress using scales from the RAND 36-Item Health Survey 1.0 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results: 41% of participants used their AFOs as recommended, 32% did not use their AFOs as recommended and 27% did not know the recommendations for use. Participants using AFOs as recommended reported lower levels of impairment and activity limitations, indicated by higher energy levels (p = 0.005), higher physical functioning (p = 0.005), lower role-limitations due to emotional problems (p = 0.001) and lower levels of anxiety (p = 0.003) compared to people not using AFOs as recommended. Conclusion: Health professionals need to ensure whether patients understand the recommendations for use of their AFO. Additionally, the results of the study support the value of evaluating patients’ psychological well-being to gain a better understanding of AFO use.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 605-612 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Disability & Rehabilitation |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 6 |
Early online date | 18 Jun 2015 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 16 Mar 2016 |
Bibliographical note
AcknowledgementsThanks to Chris Rowley and Irene Martin who assisted in dissemination of the questionnaire.
Keywords
- activity limitation
- ankle-foot orthoses
- ICF
- impairment
- participation restriction
- use