Self-reported activity in tortured refugees with long-term sequelae including pain and the impact of foot pain from falanga : a cross-sectional study
The purpose of this study was to describe activity limitations in tortured refugees referred for rehabilitation, particularly the impact of neuropathic pain resulting from falanga (beatings under the feet).
Author: Prip, Karen | Persson, Ann L. | Sjölund, Bengt H.
RCT Author: Karen Prip,
Ann PerssonRCT Author (No longer employed at RCT): Bengt H. Sjölund
Source: Disability and
rehabilitation ; [Epub ahead of
print]
Methods:
Physiotherapists assessed 103 consecutively referred
torture victims witha long history
of sequelae, among
them pain
and mobility problems. All had been
subjected to various forms of physical
and psychological torture and 71
victims had also suffered
falanga.
Main
outcome measures used were: the Disability
Rating Index (DRI; 12 items) to
assess
self-reportedcapacity to
carry out daily activities; for falanga victims, a
specific foot assessment of
sensory function in the
feet. Results: All patients perceived clear
activity limitations
according to the DRI.
The falanga victims' feet were
categorised according to
the type of foot
pain:
stimulus-independent pain;
stimulus-evoked pain; no
pain. The two groups
with foot
pain displayed sensory dysfunction
and suffered more extensive
activity limitations. After correction for
confounding factors, these two
groups reported significantly more
activity limitations in 7 out
of 12 DRI items than those who were not exposed
to falanga.
Conclusion:
In this group of victims who had
chronic pain for at least 5 years after
torture, all perceived activity
limitations, but
painfrom
falanga had a greater overall
impact on disability assessed in
terms of daily
activities.