Survey of daily activity problems of a group of amputees and the aid devices they use. Rev Ter Ocup Univ São Paulo

Abstract

Amputation leads to a change in lifestyle, limiting involvement in activities, restricting social participation, and creating difficulties in functional performance; resulting in loss of autonomy and independence for mobility. The inclusion of assistive technology can support the involvement in activities and promote the maintenance of occupational performance, providing opportunities for interaction and active involvement of the amputee in context. This current study aims to investigate what problems an amputee group of lower limbs features in their day to day, and what assistive technology they have, analyzing whether they assist in functional performance. It is a study of quantitative approach, the cross observational type. The study included 14 subjects who showed day problems related to daily performance difficulties in personal care, personal mobility and independence outside home; and reported the presence of some assistive technology resources (wheelchair, bath seat or chair, rubber mat). It was concluded that the assistive technology equipment in use, in the perception of the users, do not meet the demands of involvement in activities that wish or need to engage in day to day, not helping in their occupational performance.