OBJECTIVE: To determine physical activity levels and their associated factors post-dysvascular major lower limb amputation. DESIGN: Multicentre longitudinal observational study. SUBJECTS: Eighty-one adults with dysvascular major lower limb amputation. METHOD: Physical activity was assessed via questionnaire (adapted-SQUASH: total min, moderate/vigorous min, MET-min/week), self-reported adherence to Dutch physical activity guidelines, and accelerometer (Activ8: min, bouts, fragmentation) at < 12 days, 5 weeks, 6 months, and 9 months post-amputation. Associated factors were assessed using mixed model analysis. RESULTS: Median interquartile range questionnaire-assessed activity increased: 240 90;600, 525 245;880, 678 334;1176, and 885 525;1733 min/week (p = 0.004). Dutch guideline adherence was 16%, 55%, 47%, and 27%, respectively. Accelerometer-derived activity was 5 5;9, 26 13;50, 50 33;64, and 54 44;67 min/day. Number of active bouts ranged from 0.0 0.0;0.0 to 2.0 1.0;3.0 per day, with fragmentation between 0.0 0.0;0.0 and 0.4 0.4;0.5. Questionnaire-assessed physical activity was negatively associated with age (β = -16 min/week, p = 0.009) and undernutrition (β = -270 min/week, p = 0.013), and positively with grip strength (β = 14 min/week, p = 0.014). CONCLUSION: Physical activity levels increase but remain low post-lower limb amputation. Age, undernutrition, and grip strength are associated with physical activity. These findings underscore the need for targeted physical activity interventions for individuals post-amputation, to optimize health and clinical outcomes.
Kolen et al. (Tue,) studied this question.