Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Lower limb amputations (LLAs) have multiple causes but the majority are the result of diabetes or peripheral vascular disease. LLAs can impact an individual's walking ability, balance, functional ability, mental health and quality of life. Half of people with LLAs are limited in their ability to walk in the community. Studies show people tend to be sedentary, participating in low levels of physical activity. This may lead to further cardiorespiratory deconditioning and impede independence. Exercise is recommended as a key component of early rehabilitation to improve function and mobility. Exercise and physical activity are also important for management of common comorbid conditions associated with LLAs (e.g. diabetes) and the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular risk factors. However, there is a lack of high quality evidence about exercise or physical activity interventions for community-dwelling adults after initial rehabilitation/prosthetic training. There is an urgent need for more research on exercise and physical activity to improve the health and wellbeing of people living with LLA in the community. As a first step, a one-day research planning meeting will be held to identify key research priorities related to exercise and physical activity for people with LLAs. The meeting will help form research partnerships and collaborations among a range of stakeholders including researchers from various fields (amputation rehabilitation, exercise and physical activity, cardiac rehabilitation), clinicians, people living with LLAs, and community organizations. Participants will share their views on key issues and gaps in the field, research priorities and methodological approaches to address research questions related to exercise and physical activity for people with LLA. The outcomes of the planning event will be a strategy to move forward with the identified research priorities, including plans for submission of a research grant(s).