Impact of the COVID-19 restrictions on physical activity and quality of life in adults with lower limb amputation.

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on ambulatory activity and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in people with a lower limb amputation (LLA) in Norway. We hypothesized that the restrictions would negatively affect HR-QoL and decrease prosthetic wear time and ambulatory activity in participants with already limited mobility.

METHODS

Twenty individuals with LLA (age and time since amputation 56.2 ± 11.9 and 22.3 ± 20.1 years, respectively) participated. Ambulatory activity (stepwatch: prosthetic wear time; steps per day; minutes of low-intensity (1-15 steps min-1), moderate-intensity (16-40 steps min-1), and high-intensity ambulation (>40 steps min-1)) and HR-QoL (EQ-5D-5L) data were collected prepandemic and 8-12 months later during pandemic restrictions. Semistructured interviews identified personal experiences of coping with restrictions.

RESULTS

Prosthetic wear time decreased significantly (-1.0 ± 1.5 hours day-1, p < 0.05). Steps per day (440 ± 1481), moderate-intensity and high-intensity ambulation (3.7 ± 23.4, and 4.8 ± 13.9 minutes day-1, respectively), and EQ-5D-5L index (.02 ± .10) increased, whereas low-intensity ambulation decreased (-1.5 ± 16.1 minutes day-1), all nonsignificant changes. Qualitative analysis identified three themes related to coping with restrictions: (1) personal situation, (2) a prosthetic user's perspective, and (3) mindset.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased time spent at home might explain the decreased prosthetic wear time. Contrary to the hypothesis, participants did not decrease their physical activity, and the declined low-intensity ambulation was offset by increased moderate-intensity and high-intensity ambulation. A positive mindset, intrinsic motivation, and health awareness may be important factors for maintaining ambulatory activity and HR-QoL in people with LLA.