Cardiorespiratory fitness interventions for individuals with lower limb amputation: a scoping review.

Purpose: This scoping review aimed to provide an overview of different cardiorespiratory training methods and their effects on cardiorespiratory fitness in persons with a lower limb amputation (LLA). Methods: Studies were searched in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. The search strategy comprised four search strings with terms related to amputation or limb loss, lower extremity, training or exercise, and endurance or aerobic. Studies were included if they reported on persons with a LLA who followed a cardiorespiratory training. The Effective Public Health Practice Project tool was used for quality assessment. Results: Nine studies (88 participants) were included, with weak (7 studies) to moderate (2 studies) quality. Duration of the programmes ranged from 1.5 to 26 weeks, with a frequency of 3 to 5 sessions per week. The intensity of the workload increased during the programmes in two studies. After training, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) had increased in all studies, in three studies significantly. The training effects were inconclusive for resting heart rate, peak heart rate, and blood pressure Conclusions: Cardiorespiratory training methods, with tailored duration and intensity, tended to increase VO2max and are feasible in persons with a LLA but quality of the studies was weak.