Virtual Assessment of Functional Mobility in Lower Extremity Prosthesis Clients: An Exploratory Study

Objective: To investigate the relationship between patient perception of lower extremity function and a home-based virtual clinician assessment of mobility in lower limb prosthesis clients. Design: Descriptive observational study using a clinician-administered functional mobility survey and timed Up and Go test to assess lower extremity function under supervision. Setting: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant online virtual platform. Participants: Twelve lower limb loss clients currently using prostheses, aged >= 19 years, not pregnant, and with no stroke, seizure disorder, or cancer. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Main outcomes were mobility survey scores and mean timed Up and Go duration. Results: Most participants reported significant ease of completing basic indoor ambulation and toileting tasks (66%-75%) and significant difficulty in running or prolonged ambulation activities (83%) requiring use of lower limb prosthesis. Timed Up and Go test was faster (11.0 +/- 2.9 s) than the reference range for transtibial prosthesis users and negatively associated with self-reported lower extremity functional status (r =-.70, P =.02). Conclusions: Self-reported movement with lower limb prostheses at home and evaluation of mobility via a virtual platform is a feasible assessment modality that may reduce the frequency of therapy visits, defray some rehabilitation costs, and minimize the travel burden to distant prosthetic clinics.