Timed walking test — an all-embracing outcome measure for lower-limb amputees?

Outcome measures are becoming increasingly important in health care. Functional outcome measures are of particular importance for lower limb amputees since much of the rehabilitation process is concerned with increasing mobility and personal independence. The Scottish Physiotherapy Amputee Research Group (SPARG) has used three measures of functional outcome: the Barthel Index, Russek's classification and the Locomotor Index. The review reported here involves 938 patients having a primary amputation at the transtibial or transfemoral level between October 1992 and July 1997. Differences in function due to age and level of amputation are well known clinically and the measures were compared by looking at their ability to detect these differences. The Barthel Index lacked sensitivity because of ceiling effects and should not be considered as a suitable functional outcome measure for amputee patients. Russek's classification does detect significant differences but requires a large number of patients making it unsuitable for single hospital investigations. The Locomotor Index demonstrates significant differences due to age and amputation level despite fewer patients being assessed by this measure during the period covered by this paper. The range of the Locomotor Index can be extended to cover more active amputees by considering its ‘advanced activities’ subscale separately. The Locomotor Index is a promising measure and should be considered by rehabilitation teams looking for a valid, reliable and sensitive functional outcome measure for use with lover limb amputees.

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IS THE RIVERMEAD MOBILITY INDEX A SUITABLE OUTCOME MEASURE IN LOWER LIMB AMPUTEES?--A PSYCHOMETRIC VALIDATION STUDY

Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine ◽

10.1080/16501970310010493 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 141-144 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Franco Franchignoni ◽

Stefano Brunelli ◽

Duccio Orlandini ◽

Giorgio Ferriero ◽

Marco Traballesi

Keyword(s):

Validation Study ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Outcome Measure ◽

Psychometric Validation ◽

Mobility Index ◽

Lower Limb Amputees

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A post-discharge quality of life outcome measure for lower limb amputees: test–retest reliability and construct validity

Clinical Rehabilitation ◽

10.1191/0269215503cr689oa ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 17 (8) ◽

pp. 858-864 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

B G Callaghan ◽

M E Condie

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Construct Validity ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Outcome Measure ◽

Post Discharge ◽

Retest Reliability ◽

Test Retest Reliability ◽

Lower Limb Amputees

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Predicting mobility outcome in lower limb amputees with motor ability tests used in early rehabilitation

Prosthetics and Orthotics International ◽

10.1177/0309364616670397 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

pp. 171-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Matthijs H Spaan ◽

Aline H Vrieling ◽

Pim van de Berg ◽

Pieter U Dijkstra ◽

Helco G van Keeken

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Motor Coordination ◽

Limb Amputation ◽

Motor Ability ◽

Timed Up And Go ◽

Balance Test ◽

Walking Test ◽

Ability Tests ◽

Explained Variance ◽

Lower Limb Amputees

Study design:Retrospective cohort study.Background:Persons with a lower limb amputation can regain mobility using a prosthetic device. For fast and adequate prescription of prosthetic components, it is necessary to predict the mobility outcome early in rehabilitation. Currently, prosthetic prescription is primarily based on empirical knowledge of rehabilitation professionals.Objective:In this study, we explored motor ability tests, to be completed without a prosthetic device, which have predictive value for mobility outcome at the end of rehabilitation.Methods:For this study, data of 82 patients with a lower limb amputation were included. The Single-limb standing balance test (Balance test), the Lower-Extremity Motor Coordination Test and the Amputee Mobility Predictor Assessment Tool (AMPnoPRO) were used as measures for motor ability. Mobility outcome was measured using the Timed Up and Go Test, the Two-Minute Walking Test and K levels were used.Results:The explained variance of the Balance test, the Lower-Extremity Motor Coordination Test and the AMPnoPRO was, respectively, 0.603, 0.534 and 0.649 on the Two-Minute Walking Test (linear regression); 0.597, 0.431 and 0.624 on the Timed Up and Go Test (linear regression); and 0.432, 0.420 and 0.526 on the K levels (logistic regression).Conclusion:The AMPnoPRO predicted mobility outcome statistically (largest amount of explained variance).Clinical relevanceThis study explored the possibility of statistically predicting mobility outcome in lower limb amputees at the end of rehabilitation, using motor ability tests conducted in early rehabilitation. This study suggests the use of the AMPnoPRO to predict mobility outcome in lower limb amputees.

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Effects of lower limb resistance exercise on muscle strength, physical fitness, and metabolism in pre-frail elderly patients: a randomized controlled trial

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-021-02386-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xiaoxing Lai ◽

Lin Bo ◽

Hongwei Zhu ◽

Baoyu Chen ◽

Zhao Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Resistance Exercise ◽

Frail Elderly ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Walking Test ◽

Sit To Stand ◽

Femoris Muscle ◽

Activity Energy

Abstract Background Few studies examined interventions in frail elderly in China, while the awareness of applying interventions to prevent frailty in pre-frail elderly is still lacking. This study aimed to explore the effects of lower limb resistance exercise in pre-frail elderly in China. Methods This was a randomized controlled trial of patients with pre-frailty. The control group received routine care, while the exercise group received a 12-week lower limb resistance exercise based on routine care. The muscle strength in the lower limbs, physical fitness, and energy metabolism of the patients was evaluated at admission and after 12 weeks of intervention. Results A total of 60 pre-frail elderly were included in this study. The patients were divided into the exercise group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30) by random grouping. There were 17 men and 13 women aged 65.3 ± 13.4 in the exercise group, and 15 men and 15 women aged 67.6 ± 11.9 years in the control groups. The Barthel index was 80.3 ± 10.6 and 85.1 ± 11.6, respectively. The characteristics of the two groups were not significantly different before intervention (all p > 0.05). The results of repeated measurement ANOVA showed that there was statistically significant in crossover effect of group * time (all p < 0.05), that is, the differences of quadriceps femoris muscle strength, 6-min walking test, 30-s sit-to-stand test, 8-ft “up & go” test, daily activity energy expenditure and metabolic equivalent between the intervention group and the control group changed with time, and the variation ranges were different. The main effects of time were statistically significant (all p < 0.05), namely, femoris muscle strength, 6-min walking test, 30-s sit-to-stand test, 8-ft “up & go” test, daily activity energy expenditure and metabolic equivalent of the intervention group and the control group were significantly different before and after intervention. The main effects of groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05), namely, femoris muscle strength, 6-min walking test, 30-s sit-to-stand test, daily activity energy expenditure and metabolic equivalent before and after intervention were significantly different between the intervention group and the control group, while there was no significant differences in 8-ft “up & go” test between groups. Conclusion Lower limb resistance exercise used for the frailty intervention could improve muscle strength, physical fitness, and metabolism in pre-frail elderly. Trial registration ChiCTR, ChiCTR2000031099. Registered 22 March 2020, http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=51221&htm=4

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Adaptive Foot in Lower-Limb Prostheses

Journal of Robotics ◽

10.1155/2017/9618375 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Thilina H. Weerakkody ◽

Thilina Dulantha Lalitharatne ◽

R. A. R. C. Gopura

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Uneven Surface ◽

Design Concepts ◽

Human Foot ◽

Future Developments ◽

Adaptive Capabilities ◽

Adaptive Nature ◽

Lower Limb Amputees ◽

Artificial Prosthesis ◽

Lower Limb Prostheses

The human foot consists of complex sets of joints. The adaptive nature of the human foot enables it to be stable on any uneven surface. It is important to have such adaptive capabilities in the artificial prosthesis to achieve most of the essential movements for lower-limb amputees. However, many existing lower-limb prostheses lack the adaptive nature. This paper reviews lower-limb adaptive foot prostheses. In order to understand the design concepts of adaptive foot prostheses, the biomechanics of human foot have been explained. Additionally, the requirements and design challenges are investigated and presented. In this review, adaptive foot prostheses are classified according to actuation method. Furthermore, merits and demerits of present-day adaptive foot prostheses are presented based on the hardware construction. The hardware configurations of recent adaptive foot prostheses are analyzed and compared. At the end, potential future developments are highlighted.

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