Exploring daily activities and social participation: a study in people with a health condition of the locomotor apparatus

Introduction: Diseases/injuries of the musculoskeletal system are a frequent health problem, produce disability and diminish quality of life. Objective: The main objective was to evaluate how the health conditions of the locomotor system influence the performance of daily activities. Method: Cross-sectional descriptive study, carried out with a sample of 24 adults recently operated for an injury/disease of the locomotor system, in a traumatology/orthopedics clinic in A Coruna (Spain). An evaluation questionnaire based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health was used. Results: The activities performed with difficulty during the injury/illness with a higher frequency were work or education (85.6%), followed by transfers, domestic tasks and leisure/free time (75%, each). Regarding the facilitating environmental factors, personal assistance was more frequent (present in 71.4% of the activities studied) than the assistive products (used in 35.7% of activities). They only found barriers in the performance of the bathing/showering activity (8.3%), of architectural type. Injuries/diseases in the upper extremity were significantly associated with perceived difficulty in upper dressing (p < 0.001), feeding (p < 0.001), grooming (p=0.001), preparing food (p=0.001) and using devices/communication techniques (p=0.037); those located in the lower extremity were related to the difficulty for social/community/civic life (p=0.039). Conclusion: Locomotor health conditions seriously compromise daily performance and participation, so it is necessary to develop occupational therapy interventions to promote autonomy and quality of life.