Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore factors related to physical therapy outcomes in patients with lower extremity (LE) muscoluskeletal dysfunction, using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) and the Medical Rehabilitation Follow Along (MRFA). Subjects: Data were collected from 188 patients with a mean age 47 years. Methods: Five physical therapists were involved in the study, providing data for their outpatients referred for LE problems at the hips, knee of ankle/foot from January 2005 through January 2006. Demographic and medical variables, including comorbidities, number of medications, acuity and physician referral, and initial MRFA and LEFS scores were used to predict discharge MRFA and LEFS scores using stepwise regression analysis. Results: Regression analyses showed that the demographic and medical variables provided limited explanation for only one of the MRFA subscales, the Placcid subscale, or emotional health, with and R (squared) of .58, with initial Placcid score the most important variable, followed by time since onset. Prediction of the discharge LEFS score was also limited, with and R (squared) of .41. The predictive variables included initial Pain score on the MRFA, initial LEFS score, and being employed. Discussion and Conclusion: Findings suggest that a region-specific functional measure provides important information for understanding factors that influence successful physical therapy outcomes. The initial score of the LEFS, along with the patient’s pain level, acuity level and employment status can assist the therapist in their clinical decision-making regarding prognostication of patient outcome.
