Document Type : Original Article
Researchers
1 allameh tabataba'i physical education faculty
2 Tehran Physical Education Research Institute
Ministerial Ethics Committee
This study aims to compare hip joint range of motion, proprioception, muscle strength, and quality of life between athlete and non-athlete lower limb amputees. Amputation significantly impacts physical function and social participation, often reducing overall quality of life. The research explores how engaging in sports and physical activity may influence key functional outcomes such as muscle strength, dynamic balance and mobility, body image, and phantom limb pain.
Given the critical role of physical activity in rehabilitation, the study investigates whether there are significant differences in these functional and psychological variables between amputees who are physically active and those who are not. To collect data, researchers used a hand-held dynamometer to measure muscle strength, a digital inclinometer for assessing joint range of motion, and standardized questionnaires such as the Amputee Body Image Scale (ABIS), the Short Form-36 (SF-36) for quality of life, and the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire to evaluate pain perception.
The sample consists of 34 participants (17 athletes and 17 non-athletes) with below-knee amputations. Athletes were selected from members of the national sitting volleyball league, while non-athletes were recruited from clients of the Red Crescent Society. The results of this research are expected to provide valuable insights for designing tailored rehabilitation and exercise programs aimed at improving motor function, reducing pain, enhancing body image, and increasing social participation among individuals with lower limb amputations. Ultimately, the findings may support the integration of sports and structured physical activity into rehabilitation protocols.