Correlation among tests and functional assessment scales in the follow-up of prosthetic adaptation in people with lower limb amputation

Introduction: There is a wide variety of functional tests and scales for the assessment of different aspects in the adaptation of amputees, but there is still no consensus on which are the most appropriate. Objectives: To describe the measures of correlation and association among three functional tests for lower-limb amputees and to define the most appropriate for this assessment. To assess general satisfaction in lower-limb prostheses users and its association with the functional tests. Methods: We included 83 unilateral lower-limb amputees who were users of low-cost exoskeletal prostheses. The instruments employed were the Houghton scale, the Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire- Mobility Scale (PEQ-MS) and the 2-minute walk test (2 MWT). The statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Results: The functional tests evaluated had an acceptable correlation and association with each other, but the Spearman correlation between the Houghton scale and the 2 MWT was of greater significance (whole sample: r = 0.56; below-knee amputees: r = 0.53). The association measures did not achieve statistically significant results for above-knee amputees or for general satisfaction. Conclusions: The Houghton Scale and the 2 MWT showed a good correlation and association with each other, becoming possible first-line instruments for the follow-up of exoskeletal lower limb prosthesis users. No significant association was identified between satisfaction and the instruments measured. (c) 2020 Sociedad Espanola ola de Rehabilitacio<acute accent>n y Medicina F & imath;<acute accent>sica. Published by Elsevier Espana, a, S.L.U. All rights reserved.