In this episode of Beyond the Limb, host Will Riddick and guest Allison Symsack discuss the importance of outcome measures in physical therapy for patients with limb loss. They explore the differences between performance-based and patient-reported outcomes, the implications of mismatches between the two, and the significance of gait symmetry and balance assessments. The conversation also highlights the role of outcome data in guiding communication with prosthetists and offers a framework for selecting appropriate measures in clinical practice. Through patient stories, they illustrate the impact of these assessments on rehabilitation and patient motivation.

Resources:

Wong CK, Chihuri ST. Impact of Vascular Disease, Amputation Level, and the Mismatch Between Balance Ability and Balance Confidence in a Cross-Sectional Study of the Likelihood of Falls Among People With Limb Loss: Perception Versus Reality. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2019;98(2):130-135. doi:10.1097/PHM.0000000000001034

Wong CK, Vandervort EE, Moran KM, Adler CM, Chihuri ST, Youdan GA Jr. Walking asymmetry and its relation to patient-reported and performance-based outcome measures in individuals with unilateral lower limb loss. Int Biomech. 2022;9(1):33-41. doi:10.1080/23335432.2022.2142160

Gailey RS, Gaunaurd I, Agrawal V, Finnieston A, O'Toole C, Tolchin R. Application of self-report and performance-based outcome measures to determine functional differences between four categories of prosthetic feet. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2012;49(4):597-612. doi:10.1682/jrrd.2011.04.0077