1- Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran.
2- Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, School of Rehabilitation, Musculoskeletal Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Abstract: (3091 Views)
Purpose: Dynamic stability reduces in patients with unilateral amputation; so, it is important to recognize changes in balance during walking. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic stability of unilateral below-knee amputation during walking.
Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental study, in which 10 patients with knee amputation and 10 healthy young people participated. The variables of the present study included spatiotemporal variables, center of mass (COM) variables in anteroposterior, and mediolateral directions, as well as stability margin variables in anteroposterior and mediolateral directions. The COM and marginal stability variables were extracted through Visual 3D software. The data were analyzed by independent and dependent t-tests, using SPSS V. 22 at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: The mean difference between COM and the COP in the amputation group in the frontal plane on both sound and prosthetic sides was significantly higher than those in the healthy group (P=0.01). The difference in COM and COP in the toe-off phase of the amputation group in the sagittal plane on the prosthetic side was significantly less than that in the healthy group (P<0.01).
Conclusion: The amputees suffer from poor dynamic stability during walking; so, they increase the positive margin of stability in the frontal plane and decrease the negative margin of stability in the sagittal plane. These patients decreased the excursion of COM in the sagittal and frontal plane, thereby using different gait patterns. However, the threats of falling in these patients are more than that of the healthy ones. Therefore, it is recommended to improve the dynamic stability of these patients in the frontal plane.
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● The excursion of the center of mass in the sagittal plane was lower than that in the healthy group, but it was higher in a frontal plane compared to the healthy group.
● Below-knee amputation group walks with an increased margin of stability in the frontal plane.
● The decreased dynamic of stability can endanger the BKA group at the risk of falling.
Plain Language Summary
Dynamic stability changes during walking in the Below-knee Amputation (BKA) group compared to the healthy group and increase the risk of falling in these patients; so, we aimed to investigate the dynamic stability of this group during walking. Walking speed and stride length decreased in patients with BKA. To increase their stability during gait, these patients increase step width. Because of the defection of the ankle joint of the prosthetic leg, these patients cannot apply enough force in the propulsion phase of gait. So, the stride length of these patients also decreases. These changes during gait can decrease dynamic stability and endanger them at the risk of falling; thus, using appropriate prosthesis with active ankle and strengthening muscles can help these patients and prevent falling.
Type of Study:
Research |
Subject:
Special Received: 2019/04/13 | Accepted: 2019/06/17 | Published: 2019/11/12