Impact of the COVID-19 restrictions on physical activity and quality of life in adults with lower limb amputation.
Mirjam Mellema, Martha Risnes, Peyman Mirtaheri and 1 others
PMID 35704602WHAT IT FOUND
People with lower limb amputation wore their prostheses for less time during pandemic restrictions but took slightly more steps overall.
Quality of life did not change significantly. The main burden was losing contact with peers and organized activities.
Key findings
01Prosthetic wear time decreased significantly, while steps per day and ambulation intensity did not change significantly.
02Participants identified limited social contact and the closure of facilities as the most burdensome aspects of the restrictions.
03Individuals who maintained or increased activity levels demonstrated higher intrinsic motivation and health awareness compared to those who decreased activity.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 20 participants, all of whom were experienced prosthetic users with relatively high baseline activity levels, so results may not apply to newly amputated or less active individuals. The cohort had a high proportion of traumatic and cancer-related amputations and few vascular cases, which limits generalizability to the broader population. Activity was monitored for only 7 days at each time point, which may not capture long-term fluctuations or seasonal effects accurately.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the Research Council of Norway and Oslo Metropolitan University. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that the lack of significant change in step count means patients were unaffected. Prosthetic wear time dropped significantly, and the qualitative data revealed that the loss of peer support and facility access was a major burden, even if overall step counts remained stable.