Department of Kinesiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Disabil Rehabil. 2022 Jul;44(15):3897-3908. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1891467. Epub 2021 Mar 10.
To explore lived experiences, and identify common themes as well as vocabulary associated with fall-related events in lower limb prosthesis (LLP) users.
Five focus groups of LLP users from across the United States were conducted remotely video or tele-conferencing. Focus group transcripts were coded and analyzed using methods adapted from a grounded theory approach to identify themes.
Focus group participants (n = 25) described experiences associated with fall-related events that resulted in the identification of six themes: (1) memories of fall-related events are shaped by time and context, (2) location and ground conditions influence whether falls occur, (3) some activities come with more risk, (4) fall-related situations are multi-faceted, and often involve the prosthesis, (5) how LLP users land, but not the way they go down, tends to vary, and (6) not all falls affect LLP users, but some near-falls do.
Consideration for where LLP users fall, what they are doing when they fall, how they fall, what occurs as a result of a fall, and how well memory of a fall persists may enhance recording and reporting of falls, contribute to development of improved fall risk assessment tools, and inspire the design and function of prosthetic componentry for patient safety.Implications for rehabilitationFalls are a common problem in lower limb prosthesis (LLP) users that can lead to adverse health outcomes.Concerns over near falls, not just falls, may merit greater attention from rehabilitation professionals.Elements of the lived experience that appear unique to LLP users include the role of prosthetic fit, function, and comfort in losing and/or recovering balance; as well as the tendency of LLP users to modify rather than stop or avoid activities associated with falls.
探索下肢假体（LLP）使用者与跌倒相关事件相关的生活体验，并确定共同主题和相关词汇。
在美国各地进行了五组 LLP 用户的焦点小组远程视频或电话会议。使用扎根理论方法改编的方法对焦点小组记录进行编码和分析，以确定主题。
焦点小组参与者（n=25）描述了与跌倒相关事件相关的经历，这些经历确定了六个主题：（1）与跌倒相关事件的记忆受到时间和背景的影响，（2）位置和地面条件影响跌倒是否发生，（3）某些活动风险较高，（4）与跌倒相关的情况是多方面的，通常涉及假体，（5） LLP 用户的着陆方式，但不是他们倒下的方式，往往有所不同，（6）并非所有跌倒都会影响 LLP 用户，但有些险些跌倒会。
考虑 LLP 用户跌倒的位置、跌倒时的动作、跌倒的方式、跌倒后的结果以及对跌倒的记忆持久性，可能会增强跌倒的记录和报告，有助于开发改进的跌倒风险评估工具，并激发为患者安全而设计和优化假肢组件的灵感。
跌倒在下肢假体（LLP）使用者中很常见，可能导致不良健康后果。对险些跌倒的关注，而不仅仅是跌倒，可能值得康复专业人员给予更多关注。与 LLP 用户独特相关的生活体验元素包括假体的适配、功能和舒适度在失去和/或恢复平衡方面的作用；以及 LLP 用户倾向于修改而不是停止或避免与跌倒相关的活动。
