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How might the cardiovascular health of someone with both legs below the knee missing be affected? Would people be able to engage in activities that involve sustained cardio, like flying?
Background: the people in the world I’m building live on a moon with 1/3 Earth’s gravity and high air density. They have flying soldiers that wear artificial wings.
Cardiovascular health has to do with your heart and lungs, not what you use to exercise them. You can be a double amputee and be in phenomenally good shape. The poster boy for this principle is still Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius.
https://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/70151201.html?thread=12250410273
In your world with artificial wings, I have to think they will have some pretty rocking prosthetic legs. And even if you had no legs or were paraplegic and could not move your legs, you could still be in terrific shape.
https://www.passionatepeople.invacare.eu.com/need-know-wheelchair-racing/
Legs are about a sixth of bodyweight each. So both together are around a third of overall bodyweight. The part of the leg below the knee is about 6% or 13% for both. Those who had an amputation from the waist down would get rid of about half their weight.
Source: Quora, but see the reference links:
Of course, those who spent all their time flying rather than walking would tend to have less developed lower bodies already, even without amputation.
As already noted, amputees can be very fit.
