IM ABLE 2: Injuries Managed With Advanced Bracing for Lower Extremities

The Timed Up& Go (TUG) assesses mobility. In this test, subjects are timed while they rise from a chair, walk 3m, turn around, return to the chair and sit down again. Subjects are usually permitted to use a walking aid, but not to use physical assistance.

The Two-minute Walk Test (2MWT) assesses walking ability. Subjects will be asked to walk the greatest distance they can in 2 minutes while walking a 15.2m 'out and back' course until asked to stop. The distance walked will be recorded as will the post-test rate of perceived exertion (6-20 Borg RPE scale).

The Four-Square-Step-Test is a balance and agility test where the patient changes direction quickly while maintaining balance. A 1-inch-high obstacle in the shape of a Maltese cross is placed on the floor. The patient is instructed to begin in the back, left quadrant then to move 1) forward, 2) sideways right, 3) backward, then 4) sideways left, then to move in the reverse direction back to the original square. They move as fast as possible through their movement progression while always keeping one foot on the floor.

The Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC Scale) is a 16-item self-report tool that measures an individual's confidence in performing daily activities without losing balance or feeling unsteady. Participants rate their confidence for each activity on a 0% to 100% scale where 0% indicates no confidence and 100% indicates complete confidence.

The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference (PROMIS-PI) is a standardized, self-reported tool designed to assess the extent to which pain disrupts a person's daily activities and quality of life. The PROMIS-PI evaluates the impact of pain on social, physical, emotional and cognitive functioning. Responses are rated on a 5-point scale from "never" to "very much" regarding how pain interfered with activities in the past week.

The OPUS is a self-report questionnaire consisting of five modules. The following four modules related to the lower extremity will be used: 1) Lower Extremity Functional Status Measure, 2) Health Related Quality of Life Index, 3) Satisfaction with Devices and 4) Satisfaction with Services. The first two modules are based on a five-point Likert scale and nominal Yes/No scale while the latter two use a four-point Likert scale. Higher scores indicate better outcomes.

Interviews with participants will be used to identify overall preference and device preference for different activities. Interviews will also ask about the specific needs, preferences, challenges, and limitations of using each device.

The activity monitors will measure active and sedentary periods of behavior. Specific variables estimated will include - time spent sitting, standing, stepping, time spent in sedentary, light and moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity, time spent in prolonged sitting bouts (e.g., sitting bouts > 30 min, > 60 min etc.), time spent in bouts of moderate-to-vigorous intensity (e.g., > 10 minute bouts, i.e., activity bouts known to improve health), number of steps per day and number of sit-to-stand transitions per sedentary time.