Investigation of the Effect of Aerobic and Combined Upper Body Exercises on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Disabled Veterans with Lower Limb Amputation

Disabled veterans with lower limb amputation are at risk of cardiovascular disease 2 to 3 times more than healthy counterparts due to physical problems and immobility. Exercise is an effective intervention in reducing cardiovascular diseases in different groups. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of 12 weeks of aerobic and combined upper-body exercises on cardiovascular risk factors of disabled veterans with lower limb amputation.

In this clinical trial, 45 disabled veterans with lower limb amputation were randomly divided into 3 groups of aerobic exercise, combined exercise, and control. The exercise groups received the desired intervention 3 sessions every week for 12 weeks by observing the overload principle in the duration, volume, and intensity. Measurements of body composition, metabolic indices, and inflammatory indices (C-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin 6 [IL-6], and vascular cell adhesion molecule [V-CAM]) were performed before and after the interventions. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS-25 software at a significance level of P≤0.05. One-way analysis of variance, Tukey's post hoc test, and paired-sample t-test were used for intragroup and intergroup comparisons.

A significant improvement was observed in weight, body mass index, blood sugar, cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, CRP, and IL-6 in the aerobic and combined training groups, compared to the control group (P≤0.05). A significant improvement was observed in the V-CAM only in the combined training group, compared to the control group (P=0.018). No significant changes were seen in aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase after any of the interventions (P≥0.05).

For disabled veterans with lower limb amputation, aerobic and combined upper-body exercises can have numerous benefits for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases through the improvement of cardiovascular risk factors.