Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Jan 1987
Lower extremity amputees with peripheral vascular disease: graded exercise testing and results of prosthetic training.
Thirty-nine subjects, mean age 72 (range 52 to 89), with a leg amputation because of peripheral vascular disease performed graded exercise testing at the start of their prosthetic training program. Their walking performance at the end of the program was assessed and compared with the test findings. They had a history and rest electrocardiogram (ECG) examination which revealed cardiac problems in 75% of the patients. ⋯ In 34 patients (87%) the prosthetic training was successful. Fourteen patients needed a walking frame and twenty could walk without a walking frame. The probability of achieving walking without a walking frame was 70% in patients with peak workload above 45W and 30% in those with peak workload lower than 45W.