Background: During the rehabilitation phase, physical exercise is a key element that requires an assessment of the best alternatives for application since the pre-prosthetic phase (PPF) for an accurate prescription. Therefore, the assessment of fitness for health (FFH) shall be included in the initial rehabilitation process.
Objective: To develop a FFH evaluation battery (Evam1) for pre-prosthetic unilateral lower-limb amputees (PPULLA).
Method: A descriptive study of the theoretical construction and validation of a FFH evaluation battery based on a review of international literature for tests that measure amputee physical capability.
Results: During the scientific literature review, no batteries designed with this goal were found. We therefore designed a battery that was assembled of five tests for anthropometry, aerobic capacity, strength and flexibility. Combined leg and arm cycloergometrics, isokinetic dynamometry, and flexi test are the most reliable tests for the corresponding assessment of each component.
Conclusions: PPF is of great importance, since the basic physical capabilities are altered due to long immobilization and hospitalization periods, inadequate postures, alteration of basic daily activities, and decrease in participation in sports, recreational, and work activities. This is a fundamental proposal, given that the procedures for FFH assessment of PPULLA have been rarely addressed, thus limiting the information on assessment methods, processes and/or tests established for these procedures.
Keywords: Physical fitness; aerobic capacity; anthropometry; flexibility; lower limb amputation; muscle strength.