Effects of resistance training on gait and muscle strength improvement in unilateral transfemoral amputees: a pilot investigation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a commonly used resistance training program in mainland China-characterized by high frequency and short duration-for unilateral transfemoral amputees. We assessed participants before and after the intervention using the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), isokinetic muscle strength testing, and gait parameter analysis. The exercise intervention targeted hip muscle groups (adductors, abductors, and extensors) and consisted of four sets of 15 repetitions, with a 1-minute rest between sets and a 15-minute rest before switching muscle groups to minimize fatigue. Participants completed 6 consecutive days of training, followed by assessments after 1 day of rest. A total of 15 patients from the Prosthetics and Orthotics Department (P&OD) with unilateral transfemoral amputation were initially screened for eligibility. 12 of them were recruited; one was excluded for personal reasons, resulting in a final sample of 11. All participants had used their prosthesis for more than 1 year prior to the study. Post-training, significant improvements were observed in hip abductor and extensor strength on the amputated side at angular velocities of 60°/s and 180°/s. Walking distance increased significantly (p = 0.006), and hip abduction angle during the swing phase also increased significantly. This pilot study demonstrates that high-frequency resistance training can substantially improve specific aspects of muscle strength and walking ability in a short period for unilateral transfemoral amputees. These findings provide preliminary evidence to inform rehabilitation strategies for transfemoral amputees in resource-limited settings.Chinese clinical trial registry: Registration number：ChiCTR2500103608, Date of Registration：03-06-2025, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojEN.html?proj=268907.