Use of a Dynamic Balance System to Quantify Postural Steadiness and Stability of Individuals with Lower-Limb Amputation: A Pilot Study

ConclusionsThe dynamic balance system tasks and related metrics demonstrated the potential to discern differences in balance in persons with amputation due to changes in prosthetic componentry. Further study is needed to investigate these parameters, their correlation with clinical measures of balance, and the effects of both prosthetic componentry and alignment. Introduction Despite rehabilitation and gait training, the gait of individuals with lower-limb amputation is often asymmetric and falls and/or fear of falling are common. Clinical assessments of balance and stability include the Berg Balance Scale and the Dynamic Gait Index. Biomechanical assessments, conducted largely in research laboratories, are more objective, quantitative, and may provide greater resolution. These biomechanical measures include postural sway during both unilateral and bilateral standing tasks and the dynamic postural response to applied or volitional perturbations. The objective of this study was to investigate the utility of a dynamic balance system, a relatively new clinical tool incorporating dual force plates similar to that used in research laboratories, to assess the postural steadiness and stability of a small, diverse population of persons with lower-limb amputation. The specific aim was to investigate whether differences in balance of persons with amputation due to changes in prosthetic componentry were reflected in the resultant data. Materials and Methods Dynamic balance testin...
Source: JPO Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: Original Research Articles Source Type: research