Developing an exercise intervention to minimise hip bone mineral density loss following traumatic lower limb...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation

Background:

• Traumatic lower limb amputation can lead to decreased hip bone mineral density (BMD).
• Exercise interventions are crucial for mitigating bone loss in amputees.
• Establishing specific exercise parameters is essential for optimizing outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To achieve expert consensus on exercise intervention parameters for minimizing hip BMD loss post-amputation.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for clinicians and researchers.

Main Methods:

• A three-round Delphi study involving 13 international experts.
• Experts rated agreement on exercise prescription statements using a 5-point Likert scale.
• Consensus was defined as ≥70% agreement in Round 3.

Main Results:

• Consensus was reached on nine key exercise prescription statements.
• Recommended interventions: ≥2 days/week, ≥6 months duration, ≥3 resistance exercises, 8-12 repetition intensity.
• Inclusion of weight-bearing, multiplanar, and high-impact activities, with initial supervision, was agreed upon.

Conclusions:

• The Delphi process successfully established expert consensus on exercise parameters to reduce hip BMD loss after amputation.
• These consensus-based recommendations require validation through future interventional trials.