Mobility experiences of adult lower limb orthosis users: a focus group study.
Geoffrey S Balkman, Brian J Hafner, Rachael E Rosen and 1 others
PMID 34807780WHAT IT FOUND
Orthosis users do not simply wear their devices constantly.
They actively choose between using an orthosis, a cane, both, or neither based on the specific terrain, distance, and attention demands of each activity.
Key findings
01Participants described a dynamic decision-making process where they selected different mobility aids or combinations of aids depending on the situation, such as using no aids at home, an orthosis in the yard, and an orthosis plus a cane in the community.
02Orthosis users identified that devices could sometimes limit mobility, specifically restricting movements like squatting or getting up from the floor, despite being beneficial for other activities like walking outdoors.
03Personal factors such as fear of falling, pain, fatigue, and confidence levels significantly influenced how participants approached mobility tasks and whether they chose to engage in them.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample lacked racial and ethnic diversity, with 83% identifying as Non-Hispanic White, which may limit the generalizability of findings to other populations. Participants were recruited primarily from the west coast of North America, and regions with extreme terrains or climates (such as the rural Midwest or coastal Southeast) were not represented. The study did not include users of hip-knee-ankle-foot orthoses (HKAFOs), so findings do not apply to this group. As a qualitative study with a small sample size, the results describe experiences and themes rather than measuring the effectiveness or outcomes of interventions.
Declared interests
The authors declared no financial interest or benefit arising from the direct applications of this research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the themes as evidence that specific orthosis designs or aid combinations improve clinical outcomes. This study describes how users experience mobility and make choices, not whether those choices lead to better function or reduced falls.