Relation between aerobic capacity and walking ability in older adults with a lower-limb amputation.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To determine the relative aerobic load, walking speed, and walking economy of older adults with a lower-limb prosthesis, and to predict the effect of an increased aerobic capacity on their walking ability.

DESIGN:

Cross-sectional.

SETTING:

Human motion laboratory at a rehabilitation center.

PARTICIPANTS:

Convenience sample of older adults (n=36) who underwent lower-limb amputation because of vascular deficiency or trauma and able-bodied controls (n=21).

INTERVENTIONS:

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Peak aerobic capacity and oxygen consumption while walking were determined. The relative aerobic load and walking economy were assessed as a function of walking speed, and a data-based model was constructed to predict the effect of an increased aerobic capacity on walking ability.

RESULTS:

People with a vascular amputation walked at a substantially higher (45.2%) relative aerobic load than people with an amputation because of trauma. The preferred walking speed in both groups of amputees was slower than that of able-bodied controls and below their most economical walking speed. We predicted that a 10% increase in peak aerobic capacity could potentially result in a reduction in the relative aerobic load of 9.1%, an increase in walking speed of 17.3% and 13.9%, and an improvement in the walking economy of 6.8% and 2.9%, for people after a vascular or traumatic amputation, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Current findings corroborate the notion that, especially in people with a vascular amputation, the peak aerobic capacity is an important determinant for walking ability. The data provide quantitative predictions on the effect of aerobic training; however, future research is needed to experimentally confirm these predictions.

• Authors: Daphne Wezenberg, Lucas H van der Woude, Willemijn X Faber, Arnold de Haan, Han Houdijk
• Journal: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation (Arch Phys Med Rehabil) Vol. 94 Issue 9 Pg. 1714-20 (Sep 2013) ISSN: 1532-821X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23466292 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Aged
• Amputees (rehabilitation)
• Artificial Limbs
• Exercise Test
• Exercise Tolerance
• Female
• Humans
• Leg
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Oxygen Consumption (physiology)
• Physical Fitness (physiology)
• Walking (physiology)