Associations between activity limitations and participation restrictions in people with late effects of polio.

BACKGROUND

Late effects of polio (LEoP) are defined as new symptoms, for example, muscle weakness, fatigue, and pain, occurring many years after an acute polio infection. These impairments can lead to difficulties performing everyday activities (ie, activity limitations) that can reduce a person's ability to take part in society (ie, perceived participation restrictions). Yet, no study has explored how activity limitations are associated with participation restrictions in people with LEoP.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the association between activity limitations and participation restrictions among people with LEoP.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional descriptive study.

SETTING

Outpatient rehabilitation clinic.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred two people with LEoP.

INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) assessing performance with everyday activities (COPM Performance) and satisfaction with performance in everyday activities (COPM Satisfaction), and Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNL-I) assessing perceived participation.

RESULTS

The mean scores of COPM Performance and COPM Satisfaction with performance were 5.3 and 5.0, respectively, and the mean score for RNL-I was 71.6, indicating mild to moderate disability among the participants. The linear regressions, adjusted for gender and age, showed significant associations between COPM Performance and RNL-I (β = 0.024, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.001-0.039, p = .015) and between COPM Satisfaction with performance and RNL-I (β = 0.024, 95% CI 0.003-0.046, p = .029). Significant associations were also found between the COPM subgroup self-care and the RNL-I subscale Daily functioning.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show that people with LEoP perceive activity limitations as well as participation restrictions and that these concepts are only weakly associated. Therefore, during rehabilitation both activity limitations and participation restrictions need to be addressed in people with LEoP. This new knowledge may assist rehabilitation professionals when developing and implementing targeted interventions for people with LEoP.