Biobehavioral Intervention Targeting Physical Activity Behavior Change for Older Veterans after Nontraumatic Amputation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Only men were successfully recruited, so the results do not describe women veterans. The study was small, with 31 enrolled and 28 completing the 12-week test, and it was not powered for demographic comparisons. Participants had to be ambulatory with a prosthesis, live within 50 miles, and have no unstable heart condition, uncontrolled hypertension, acute systemic infection, recent stroke within 2 years, active cancer treatment, or lower-extremity wound or ulcer that limited walking, so results do not apply to nonambulatory patients or those with these conditions. The participants were 1 to 5 years after amputation, so the trial does not show what happens in the first 6 months. Blinding was limited to outcome assessors. The intervention combined FitBit feedback, tablet training, weekly video coaching, education, self-monitoring, tailored feedback, barrier and facilitator identification, problem solving, action planning, and encouragement, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated. The attention control was not inert; it included health education and seated range-of-motion tasks. Retention was 90%, but its confidence interval included the 85% cutoff, so feasibility was not firmly established. Dose goal attainment was only 10%, so the planned weekly step increase was rarely achieved.

The supplied text does not include an author conflict-of-interest or funding declaration. The listed publication types indicate research support from NIH extramural and U.S. Government non-P.H.S. sources.

Do not read the acceptable retention and enjoyment as proof that the program increases activity. The main activity outcome showed no between-group difference, and only 10% of participants reached the 3% weekly step-increase target.