Peak oxygen consumption in older adults with a lower limb amputation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the aerobic capacity of older adults who underwent a lower limb amputation is associated with the presence, cause (traumatic or vascular), and level of amputation (transtibial or transfemoral).


METHODS
Cross-sectional descriptive.


METHODS
Human motion laboratory at a rehabilitation center.


METHODS
Older subjects (n=36) who underwent lower limb amputation and age-matched, able-bodied controls (n=21). All subjects were able to walk for a minimum of 4 minutes.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Peak oxygen consumption (Vo(2)(peak)) was measured using open-circuit respirometry while performing a discontinuous, graded, 1-legged, peak cycle exercise test.


RESULTS
After correcting for age, body mass index, and sex, the multiple linear regression analysis revealed that subjects who underwent amputation had a 13.1% lower aerobic capacity compared with able-bodied controls (P=.021). Differentiation among etiologies revealed that subjects with a vascular amputation had a lower Vo(2)(peak) of 29.1% compared with able-bodied controls (P<.001), whereas traumatic amputees did not differ from able-bodied controls (P=.127). After correcting for etiology, no association between level of amputation and Vo(2)(peak) was found (P=.534).


CONCLUSIONS
Older adults who underwent an amputation because of vascular deficiency had a lower aerobic capacity compared with able-bodied controls and people with a traumatic amputation. The level of amputation was not associated with Vo(2)(peak).
MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. d.wezenberg@vu.nl
Daphne
D
Wezenberg
Arnold
A
de Haan
Willemijn X
WX
Faber
Hans J
HJ
Slootman
Lucas H
LH
van der Woude
Han
H
Houdijk
D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*