Physical fitness of lower limb amputees.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the cardiorespiratory endurance of the physical fitness of amputees and able-bodied subjects of the same ages and to demonstrate deterioration of the physical fitness of the amputees.

DESIGN:
The test subjects were 31 amputees. Eighteen able-bodied persons served as controls. The incremental exercise test was performed to evaluate physical fitness. Sixteen of 31 amputees underwent endurance training by using a cycle ergometer driven by the intact leg, and their physical fitness was evaluated after completion of the endurance training program.

RESULTS:
The Vo2max, anaerobic threshold, and maximum workload for the amputees were significantly lower than those of the able-bodied group. The equivalent values for the endurance training group before exercise treatment were 18.0, 12.1, and 63.9, respectively. After exercise treatment, these values significantly increased, and there was no significant difference from the able-bodied subjects.

CONCLUSIONS:
This study showed that the physical fitness of amputees was clearly lower than that of the able-bodied subjects and that the amputees were able to recover from a poorly conditioned status after endurance training.

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Author information

Author/s: Chin, Takaaki (T); Sawamura, Seishi (S); Fujita, Hisao (H); Nakajima, Sakuya (S); Oyabu, Hiroko (H); Nagakura, Yuji (Y); Ojima, Isao (I); Otsuka, Hiroshi (H); Nakagawa, Akio (A);

Affiliation: Hyogo Rehabilitation Center, Kobe, Japan.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article

Journal: American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation / Association of Academic Physiatrists (Am J Phys Med Rehabil), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-May; vol 81 (issue 5) : pp 321-5

Dates: Created 2002/04/19; Completed 2002/05/16; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 11964571, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Amputees - rehabilitation
Exercise Test
Female
Heart Rate
Humans

Leg - surgery
Male
Oxygen Consumption
Physical Education and Training
Physical Endurance - physiology
Physical Fitness - physiology

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