Cardiorespiratory status and movement capabilities in adults with limb amputation

Two hundred and thirty subjects with various levels of upper and lower limb amputation were examined with regard to cardiac and respiratory functions. The subjects were examined at rest and in balanced wheelchair ergometer testing. Noncontinuous step-by-step increased loading was performed. The data given are for age-group 20-40 who sustained traumatic amputation and suffered no prior respiratory or circulatory disease. Subjects after above-knee (AK), bilateral AK or AK plus below-knee amputation) showed a loss of the reaction of an adequate systolic output rise in wheelchair ergometer testing. In the adults with amputation, the increase of minute stroke volume occurred solely at the expense of heart rate. The contractile capacity of myocardium was decreased. Cardiac indicator value in subjects with AK or bilateral AK amputation in sub-maximal exercises training appeared to be lower than in the control group. A reduced work capacity takes place in subjects after body mass loss. The maximal oxygen intake in subjects with bilateral lower limb amputation was less than in the control group. The breaking of correlation interrelationships between working capacity indicators was revealed in the subjects with bilateral lower limb amputation. The adults with upper limb amputation showed a reduction in pulmonary ventilation. During exercise training, the capacity for adequate pulmonary ventilation was lost in the above-mentioned subjects. This research demonstrates that movement capabilities in adults with amputation depend not on the level of amputation and residual limb condition, but to a great extent upon the dynamic capabilities of the cardiac and respiratory muscular systems' ability to adjust to the limb loss.