Article
Investigation of Health-Related Quality of Life in Physically Active Individuals with and without Amputation
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Authors
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Stephanie Pögel
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation, Berlin, Germany
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Anett Reißhauer
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation, Berlin, Germany
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Peter Mitznegg
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Allgemeinmedizin, Berlin, Germany
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Birgit Mohr
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Allgemeinmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| Published: | October 24, 2011 |
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Outline
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Objective: To investigate the health-related quality of life in individuals with and without amputation in relation to physical activity.
Material/Methods: The health-related quality of life (QoL) of 71 amputees was studied by using the standardised MOS SF 36 and a self-developed questionnaire investigating demographic variables, physical activity, and disabilities. The data were compared to the Federal German Health and Examination Survey 1998 cohort [1].
QoL in amputees was compared to a healthy control. QoL in physically active amputees was compared to amputees with a low physical activity level. Other disabilities like spastic paralysis and short stature were compared in terms of QoL.
The primary outcome variable was health-related quality of life using the German version of Short Form 36 (SF 36) with its eight specific domains physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, and mental health. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Withney U test. T-Test was used for determining significance in comparison to data from the literature.
Results: We found that the health related quality of life of amputees in comparison to a random sample of the Federal German Health and Examination Survey in 1998 representing the average population, is significantly lower in all dimensions of SF-36.
Amputees with high and low physical activity levels showed considerable difference in QoL being higher in physically active amputees.
Physically active amputees showed to be comparable to the healthy control sample in the SF-36 domains vitality, role-emotional and mental health.
Conclusion: Physical activity is significantly related to the health-related quality of life in amputees. Amputees should undergo post-amputation rehabilitation to facilitate higher physical activity levels and better quality of life.
