Impairment variables predicting activity limitation in individuals with lower limb amputation

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Lower limb amputation significantly impacts mobility and activity limitation.
• The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a key measure of functional ambulation.
• Predicting 6MWT performance is crucial for targeted rehabilitation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictors of six-minute walk test (6MWT) performance in individuals with lower limb amputation.
• To assess the influence of impairment (strength, balance), personal factors, and amputation-specific variables on ambulation.
• To understand the relationship between musculoskeletal impairments and functional mobility post-amputation.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 72 individuals with lower limb amputation (age 21-83) participated.
• Evaluated muscle strength (hip extensors), balance, and functional status.
• Collected demographic data, comorbidities, and amputation-specific details (time, cause, level).
• Utilized multiple linear regression to analyze multivariate relationships with 6MWT performance.

Main Results:

• Impairment variables, personal factors, and amputation specifics collectively explained 72% of the variance in 6MWT performance.
• Hip extensor strength emerged as the strongest predictor, accounting for 30.9% of the variance.
• Balance, demographics, time since amputation, cause, and level of amputation were also significant predictors.

Conclusions:

• Multiple factors influence 6MWT scores in lower limb amputees.
• Impaired hip strength and balance are the most significant contributors to reduced ambulation.
• The 6MWT effectively highlights musculoskeletal impairments affecting mobility in amputees, supporting its use in clinical practice.