Physical activity, functional capacity, and step variability during walking in people with lower-limb amputation

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Science
• Kinesiology

Background:

• Physical activity is crucial for overall health, but individuals with amputation may face challenges in maintaining it.
• Gait variability is a known risk factor for falls in this population.
• Understanding the relationship between physical activity and functional performance is vital for improving quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between physical activity levels and key performance measures in individuals with unilateral lower-limb amputation.
• To explore how gait variability and walking performance relate to daily physical activity.

Main Methods:

• Twenty individuals with unilateral lower-limb amputation (12 transtibial, 7 transfemoral, 1 through-knee) participated.
• Gait data (step length/width variability, comfortable walking speed) were collected using the GaitRite walkway.
• Physical activity was quantified using 7-day pedometer step counts.

Main Results:

• Physical activity showed strong positive correlations with comfortable walking speed (r=0.76) and six-minute walk distance (r=0.67).
• A fair positive correlation was found between physical activity and step width variability (r=0.44).
• Physical activity was inversely related to step length variability in both prosthetic (r=-0.46) and sound legs (r=-0.47).

Conclusions:

• Higher functional capacity, including better walking speed and lateral stability, may facilitate increased physical activity in amputees.
• Conversely, higher physical activity levels might be associated with improved gait parameters.
• Preliminary findings suggest a bidirectional relationship, though larger sample sizes are needed.