Mobility Analysis of AmpuTees (MAAT I): Quality of life and satisfaction are strongly related to mobility for patients with a lower limb prosthesis

BACKGROUND: While rehabilitation professionals are historically trained to place emphasis on the restoration of mobility following lower limb amputation, changes in healthcare dynamics are placing an increased emphasis on the limb loss patient’s quality of life and general satisfaction. Thus, the relationship between these constructs and mobility in the patient with lower limb loss warrants further investigation. OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between mobility of the patient with lower limb loss and both (1) general satisfaction and (2) quality of life. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart analysis. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of the Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility and the Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire—Well-Being subsection. Pearson correlations were used to test relationships. RESULTS: Data from 509 patients with a lower limb prosthesis were included. Mobility was found to be positively correlated with quality of life (r = 0.511, p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval (0.443, 0.569)) and general satisfaction (r = 0.475, p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval (0.403, 0.542)), as well as their arithmetic mean (i.e. Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire—Well-Being) (r = 0.533, p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval (0.466, 0.592)). CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence of a strong positive correlation between mobility and both quality of life and general satisfaction. Thus, in the holistic care of a patient with lower limb loss, maximizing mobility would correlate with greater quality of life and general satisfaction. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There is growing emphasis on the quality of life and general satisfaction experienced by patients undergoing prosthetic rehabilitation. The results of this study underscore the importance of providing prosthetic rehabilitation that maximizes the patient’s mobility, noting that these individuals also report greater quality of life and general satisfaction.