EVALUATION OF PHYSICAL FITNESS AND ISOKINETIC TEST PARAMETERS OF AMPUTEE FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effect of participation in sports on the functional capacity of a person with an amputation.Material and Method: The study included a sports group of 29 male football players with unilateral lower limb loss aged be-tween 18-45 years and a control group of 11 sedentary persons with an amputation. Body composition, postural stability, and trunk muscle strength were measured with a skinfold, Biodex Stability System, and dynamometer. A pulmonary function test and cardiopulmonary exercise test were performed. Aerobic capacity was evaluated by cardiopulmonary exercise test using the breath-by-breath method.Result: Skinfold thickness measurements performed at the triceps, thigh, and calf regions were higher in the sports group (p<0.05), whereas body fat percentage indicated no significant difference among both groups (p>0.05). The sports group had higher postural stability, trunk muscle strength, and endurance (p<0.05). Predicted maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV%) and peak expiratory flow (PEF%) values were significantly higher in the sports group (p<0.05). The sports group had higher heart rates corresponding to the anaerobic threshold (p<0.05). At the same time, no significant difference was observed between the two groups concerning resting and maximum heart rate (p>0.05). The sports group had longer exercise times and higher gas exchange values (p<0.05).Conclusion: Postural stability, trunk muscle strength, and physical condition were better in football players. These findings suggest that performing regular physical activities positively affects the development of physical performance in a person with an amputation.