It is well known that energy expenditure of lower extremity amputee during ambulation is greater than that of normal persons. Also the energy expenditure, so called oxygen consumption, depends of various factors such as age, cause of amputation, level of amputation, stump length and weight of prosthesis etc.

Therefore the present study was designed to determine oxygen consumption in unilateral lower extremity amputees (devided into 3 subgroups) by submaximal exercise according to age and level of amputation; to observe the cardiovascular response during exercise, and to compare the results with a control group (2 subgroups).

The major results are as follows:

1) The pulmonary function test (vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec and maximum voluntary ventilation) showed significant decrease in older (45 and over) persons regardless of group status, but to significant decrease in all the remaining subjects. And the pulmonary function was significantly correlated with age as opposed to amputee status.

2) Difference in oxygen consumption values was related to exercise with a difference of 18% (higher in amputee group) between the below-knee amputee and control over 45 yrs of age and a difference of 8% (higher in amputee group) between the below-knee amputee and the control group under 45. There was no significant difference in all groups during rest.

3) Difference in Heart rate was related to exercise with a difference of 18% (higher in amputee group) between the below-knee amputee and control over 45 yrs of age and a difference of 10% (higher in amputee group) between the below-knee amputee and the control group under 45. There was no significant difference in all groups during rest.

4) The resting blood pressure was only slightly higher in the older age below-knee amputee group. During exercise, the older age below-knee amputee group had more increase of 29% and younger age below-knee amputee group, 12% than control group.

5) The maximum oxygen consumption of the younger age control group was 46.2 ml/kg/min; older age control group, 40.0% ml/kg/min; younger age above-knee amputee group, 28.9 ml/kg/min; younger age below-knee amputee group, 45.8 ml/kg/min; older age below-knee amputee group, 34.9 ml/kg/min. The maximum oxygen consumption in the above-knee amputee group was significantly lower than that of all other groups.

6) The stump length of above-knee and below-knee amputee groups were 24.5 and 17.7 cm, respectively, and was significantly correlated with maximum oxygen comsumption in the above-knee amputee group.

7) The change of heart rate during the recovery period was marked at 1 and 2 minutes after exercise and was slight in all 5 groups thereafter.

8) The change of systolic blood pressure during the recovery period was marked at 1 and 2 mintes after exercise in some groups and in some groups and in other groups, was marked at 3 minutes and was slight in all 5 groups thereafter.