Relationship Between Daily Activity and Aerobic Capacity Exists in Amputees

A study examined the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and the level of physical activity in the daily life among people with lower-limb amputations. The study’s authors found strong relationships between upper-body aerobic fitness, sedentary behavior, high-intensity activity level, and walking capacity.

Fourteen participants with lower-limb amputations performed an assessment of VO₂peak on an arm-crank ergometer and walking capacity with their preferred walking speed and a two-minute walking test. The level of physical activity was measured over seven days with a step activity monitor (number of steps; sedentary time; and proportion of low-intensity, moderate-intensity, high-intensity, and peak-intensity activity levels).

VO₂peak correlated significantly with number of steps per day, sedentary time, high-intensity activity level, and peak-intensity activity level. After correcting for age, correlations were still large and significant, the researchers found. Large correlations were also found between VO₂peak, preferred walking speed, and two-minute walking test.

The study, “Relationship between level of daily activity and upper-body aerobic capacity in adults with a lower limb amputation,” was published in Prosthetics and Orthotics International.