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Targeting Balance Confidence to Increase Community Integration in Users of Prostheses

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Amputation
Physical Activity
Interventions
Behavioral: Weekly exercise sessions with physical therapist and psychologist
Behavioral: Home-based exercises
Registration Number
NCT03411148
Lead Sponsor
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Brief Summary

Low balance confidence occurs when an individual perceives they have limited ability to maintain their balance while performing a specific task of daily living. It is a prevalent problem in lower limb prosthesis users and is a strong predictor of prosthesis use and community participation. Balance confidence is not necessarily related to functional abilities. It is possible to improve functional ability as a result of rehabilitation, without concurrently improving balance confidence. Interventions to address low balance confidence may need to target both functional abilities as well as beliefs regarding these abilities. The purpose of this study is to test whether, for users of lower limb prostheses, an intervention combining physical therapy exercise to improve function with cognitive behavioral therapy to address fears and thoughts associated with low confidence can improve balance confidence and promote community participation.

Detailed Description

Lower limb prosthesis users, with self-reported low balance confidence complete baseline gait analysis and balance testing, as well as a series of validated self-reported outcome scales addressing balance confidence, quality of life, and community integration. Participants are then provided a step activity monitor (SAM) and a global position sensing (GPS) tracker to be worn for one week, the data from which is linked and used to objectively quantify baseline community participation. At the conclusion of the one week, participants are randomized to one of two groups, each of which will last for 8 weeks. At the conclusion of the eight weeks, participants repeat baseline assessments and are again provided a SAM and GPS tracker to wear for one week. Baseline measures and activity monitoring occur again 8 and 16 weeks thereafter.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
22
Inclusion Criteria
  • age ≥18 years
  • unilateral lower limb amputation without serious complications
  • at least 6 months experience using a definitive lower limb prosthesis
  • Activity Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale score≤80
  • self-reported concern about balance that limit activities
Exclusion Criteria
  • active wounds on weight bearing surfaces
  • inability to perform the protocol without an assistive device
  • currently seeing a physical therapist for any reason
  • history of neurodegenerative disease
  • history of stroke
  • ill-fitting or ill-functioning prosthesis (to be verified by research prosthetist during screening)
  • prohibited by primary care physician or research physician to participate in mild exercise

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Exercise Group AWeekly exercise sessions with physical therapist and psychologistWeekly exercise sessions with physical therapist and psychologist
Exercise Group BHome-based exercisesHome-based exercises
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Community integration24 weeks

number of steps taken outside of the home

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Social Functioning scale from the 36-item Short Form Health Survey24 weeks

The scale measures the extent to which physical and emotional problems interfere with social activities on a scale of 0-100 with higher scores indicating less interference

Perceived Limitation scale from the Measure of Community Reintegration of Servicemembers24 weeks

The scale measures self-perceived limitations in community participation n a score of 10-70 with higher scores indicating less limitation

Change from baseline in Activity-specific balance confidence scale following the intervention8 weeks

The ABC scale measures balance confidence on a scale of 0-100 with higher values indicating greater confidence

Role Limitation due to Emotional Problems scale from the Short Form Health Survey (SF36)24 weeks

The scale measures the extent to which emotional problems interfere with work and daily activities on a scale of 0-100 with higher scores indicating less interference

Extent of Participation scale from the Measure of Community Reintegration of Servicemembers24 weeks

The scale measures community participation in terms of how often an individual engages in certain activities on a score of 10-70 with higher scores indicating greater participation

Frenchay Activity Index24 weeks

This is a behavioral scale that primarily measures social participation, as well as daily activities on a score of 0-45 with higher scores indicating greater social activity.

Activity-specific balance confidence scale24 weeks

The ABC scale measures balance confidence on a scale of 0-100 with higher values indicating greater confidence. Measurement at this time point will indicate the lasting impact of the intervention on balance confidence

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

🇺🇸

North Chicago, Illinois, United States

Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center

🇺🇸

North Chicago, Illinois, United States

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