Leisure activities following a lower limb amputation

Abstract

Purpose. The aim of this study was to describe leisure activities, leisure satisfaction and constraints on participation in leisure following a unilateral lower limb amputation due to vascular disease.

Method. This study used a mixed-method approach where 15 individuals with lower limb amputation completed the individual leisure profile 2–3 months post-discharge from rehabilitation. A subsample (n = 8) also participated in semi-structured interviews analysed using the Miles and Huberman analytic method.

Results. Results show that participants were involved in 12 different leisure activities on average. Compared to before the amputation, a decrease in participation was observed in all categories of leisure activity, and especially crafts, nature and outdoor activities, mechanics, sports and physical activities. Nonetheless, overall satisfaction was high. The most important constraints on participation in leisure were lack of accessibility, material considerations, functional abilities, affective constraints and social constraints.

Conclusion. A decrease in leisure activity participation and the presence of constraints do not automatically translate into low levels of leisure satisfaction.

Keywords:

• Leisure activities
• lower limb amputation
• mixed-method research

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec and the Quebec Rehabilitation Research Network that granted doctoral research awards to the first author. A special thanks to all the participants and the health care workers who facilitated data collection procedures.