Physical activity is associated with positive patient and clinical outcomes following dysvascular major lower limb amputation.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association between physical activity (PA; duration and intensity) and patient and clinical outcomes at various measurement occasions post dysvascular major lower limb amputation (LLA).

METHODS

In this multicenter longitudinal observational study, the PA levels of adults who underwent dysvascular major LLA (n = 81) were assessed using the adapted Short Questionnaire to Assess Health-enhancing Physical Activity questionnaire (total hours, hours of moderate/vigorous, and metabolic equivalent of task-hours/week), at <12 days, 5 weeks, 6 months, and 9 months post-LLA. (Reamputation-free) Survival and quality of life (Brief Version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire) were assessed at 5 weeks, 6 months, and 9 months, wound healing at 5 weeks, mobility (K-level) at 6 and 9 months, and work status at 9 months post LLA.

RESULTS

Total PA was positively associated with survival (P = .034), but not after adjusting for covariates (hazard ratio, 0.84 per hour/week; P = .075). PA levels were positively associated with physical and psychological quality of life (QoL) domains, and with overall QoL and health (P =<.001-.022), but not with social or environmental domains (P = .118-.517). Total PA was also positively associated with wound healing (odds ratio, 1.06 per hour/week; P = .044). No significant associations were found between PA levels and reamputation-free survival (P = .272-.321), mobility (P = .671-.994), or work status (P = .682-.908).

CONCLUSIONS

PA is positively associated with survival, QoL, and wound healing. These findings underscore the relevance of PA and the need for PA interventions for individuals post LLA to potentially optimize health, patient, and clinical outcomes.