Thermoregulatory responses in persons with lower-limb amputation during upper-limb endurance exercise in a hot and humid environment.
Kouki Fukuhara, Yukio Mikami, Hiroshi Hasegawa and 5 others
PMID 34483329WHAT IT FOUND
People with lower-limb amputation sweat more on the chest and thigh during exercise in hot, humid conditions than able-bodied people.
This keeps core temperature the same, but causes greater fluid loss and dehydration risk. They may need to drink more.
Key findings
01Core temperature increased similarly in both groups, with no difference between persons with lower-limb amputation and able-bodied individuals.
02Persons with lower-limb amputation had higher local sweating rates on the chest and intact thigh, and higher total body sweating (1.40 kg vs 0.96 kg) and dehydration rates (2.07% vs 1.51%) compared to able-bodied individuals.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
The sample size was very small (nine per group), limiting statistical power. The study used only moderate, constant-load exercise for 60 minutes; results may not apply to prolonged or high-intensity intermittent sports. Participants exercised without prostheses, which may not reflect real-world conditions where prosthetic use affects heat dissipation. The study did not differentiate between transfemoral and transtibial amputations due to the small number of participants.
Declared interests
The authors disclosed no conflicts of interest and received no financial support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that because core temperature did not differ, the risk is equal. The amputation group lost significantly more fluid, leading to higher dehydration rates, which increases heatstroke risk if fluids are not replaced.