Falls perceived as significant by lower limb prosthesis users are generally associated with fall consequences rather...

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Prosthetics and Orthotics

Background:

• Falls are a significant concern for lower limb prosthesis (LLP) users.
• Understanding the factors contributing to perceived fall significance is crucial for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between perceived fall significance in LLP users and the circumstances or consequences of their falls.
• To identify specific fall circumstances and consequences that contribute to a fall being perceived as significant.

Main Methods:

• The Lower Limb Prosthesis User Fall Event Survey collected data on the most significant fall in the past 12 months.
• Participants rated fall significance (0-10), which was dichotomized into low and high categories.
• Binary logistic regression analyzed associations between fall significance, circumstances, and consequences.

Main Results:

• Ninety-eight LLP users were analyzed.
• Five fall consequences were significantly associated with higher perceived fall significance: major injury, need for medical/allied-health treatment, decreased balance confidence, and increased fear of falling.
• Two fall circumstances were associated with greater significance: impact to the arm and impact to the face, head, or neck.

Conclusions:

• Perceived fall significance in lower limb prosthesis users is more strongly associated with the consequences of the fall than with the circumstances.
• These findings highlight the importance of addressing fall consequences to mitigate the impact of falls on LLP users' well-being and confidence.