Abstract
Objectives
To establish reference values for the 2-minute walk test (2-MWT) distance and gait
speed in people with a lower limb amputation (LLA) who are prosthetic ambulators.
Also, to describe the differences in distance and gait speed between sexes, causes
of amputation, levels of amputation, health risk classification, functional levels,
and age groups.
Design
Cross-sectional study.
Setting
National meeting for people with lower limb amputation.
Participants
A convenience sample of unilateral people (N=101; 47 men, 54 women; mean age ± SD,
50.9±14.3 y) with an LLA; 48 had a transtibial amputation and 53 had a transfemoral
amputation. Participants were classified as either limited community ambulators, community
ambulators, or those who exceed basic ambulation skills (K2, n=7; K3, n=70; K4, n=24).
Intervention
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measure
2-MWT performance (ie, distance and gait speed).
Results
The mean ± SD 2-MWT distance and gait speed for the entire sample was 143.8±37.5 meters
(range, 49-259 m) and 72.1±18.8 meters per minute (range, 25-130 m/min), respectively.
Men walked farther (distance: men, 154.2±34.2 m; women, 134.4±38.1 m) and faster (gait
speed: men, 77.3±17.1 m/min; women, 67.4±19.1 m/min) than women (P<.05). The mean ± SD 2-MWT distance for K4, K3, and K2 level participants was 177.9±31.1
meters, 138.4±28.5 meters, and 81.7±26.9 meters, respectively. Functional level K4
participants performed better than K3 participants (P<.05), and K3 participants performed better than K2 participants (P<.05). People with transtibial amputation walked farther than those with transfemoral
amputation (152.9±43.0 m vs 135.6±43.0 m) (P<.05). The distance and speed ambulated by those participants classified in the very
high health risk group was worse than those categorized as being at an increased high
health risk group (P<.05) and the no increase health risk group (P<.05). The performance of participants older than 70 years old was inferior to the
performance of all younger age groups.
Conclusions
Reference values for the 2-MWT distance and gait speed were established in people
with LLA who are prosthetic ambulators. Significant differences in the 2-MWT performance
were found between sexes, causes of amputation, levels of amputation, health risk
classification, functional levels, and age groups.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
2-MWT (2-minute walk test), 6-MWT (6-minute walk test), 12-MWT (12-minute walk test), ANOVA (analysis of variance), BMI (body mass index), LLA (lower limb amputation), MFCL (Medicare Functional Classification Level), PT (physical therapist), TTA (transtibial amputation), TFA (transfemoral amputation), WtHR (waist-to-height ratio)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 06, 2020
Footnotes
This work was presented at Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System National Research Day, Local Research and Clinical Community, May 15, 2019, Miami, FL.
The Department of Defense/Veterans Affairs Joint Incentive Fund project titled Mobile Device Outcomes-based Rehabilitation Program (MDORP) supported this study. It was administered by the Human Studies Subcommittee at the Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Miami, Florida, USA (Clinical Trial Registration: NCT02891707).
Disclosures: none.
Identification
Copyright
Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
