To achieve fast and accurate prescription of prosthetic components, it is useful to be able to predict the person’s mobility outcome early in his or her rehabilitation. Research conducted at the University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands, explored the possibility of statistically predicting mobility outcome among people who have lower-limb amputations at the end of their rehabilitation, by using motor ability tests conducted in early rehabilitation. Results of the study indicate that the Amputee Mobility Predictor without a prosthesis (AMPnoPRO) assessment tool can predict mobility outcomes.
The study included data from 82 patients with lower-limb amputations. The single-limb standing balance test, the lower-extremity motor coordination test, and the AMPnoPRO were used as measures for motor ability. Mobility outcome was measured using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and the two-minute walk test (2MWT); K-levels were also used.
According to the study’s authors, the explained variance of the balance test, the lower-extremity motor coordination test, and the AMPnoPRO were, respectively, 0.603, 0.534, and 0.649 on the 2MWT (linear regression); 0.597, 0.431, and 0.624 on the TUG test (linear regression); and 0.432, 0.420, and 0.526 on the K-levels (logistic regression). The data suggests the AMPnoPRO predicted mobility outcome statistically (with the largest amount of explained variance).
The study was published October 20 online before print in Prosthetics and Orthotics International.
