title: Physical activity, ambulation, and comorbidities in people with diabetes and lower-limb amputation.
abstract: We characterized physical activity (PA) and its relation to physical function and number of comorbidities in people with diabetes and transtibial amputation (AMP), people with diabetes without AMP, and nondisabled adults without diabetes or AMP. Twenty-two individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and transtibial amputation (DM+AMP), 11 people with DM, and 13 nondisabled participants were recruited for this cross-sectional cohort study. Measures included PA volume and intensity, a Timed Up and Go test, a 2-min walk test, and number of comorbidities. The nondisabled group performed greater amounts of PA than the DM group, who performed greater amounts of PA than the DM+AMP group. PA was related to physical function in the DM group and in the DM+AMP group, whereas no such relationship existed in the nondisabled group. PA was not related to number of comorbidities in any group. These findings suggest the ability to walk may affect overall performance of PA. Alternately, PA may alleviate walking problems. This possibility is of interest because issues with walking may be modifiable by improved levels and intensity of PA. PA's lack of relation to number of comorbidities suggests that factors beyond multiple morbidities account for group differences in PA.
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Program, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO.
authors.forename: Roger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Paxton
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Program, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO.|Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Healthcare System, Denver, CO.
authors.forename: Amanda M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Program, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO.|Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Healthcare System, Denver, CO.
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Stevens-Lapsley
authors.affiliation: Hanger Orthotics and Prosthetics, Denver, CO.
authors.forename: Kyle A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sherk
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Program, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO.|Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Healthcare System, Denver, CO.
authors.forename: Cory L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Christiansen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000070857:Walk Test; D016138:Walking
keywords: comorbidities; diabetes; functional performance; lower-limb amputation; nondisabled adults; physical activity intensity; physical activity level; steps per day; transtibial amputation; walking performance