Gait Analysis in Individuals with Transtibial Amputation Walking on Sand: Comparing Everyday Prosthesis with a Water-Activity Prosthesis

Introduction
This exploratory descriptive case-control study examined gait characteristics during sand walking in people with unilateral transtibial amputation, comparing patterns between everyday prosthesis with shoe, everyday prosthesis without shoe (EPWS), and a water-activity prosthesis (WAP), and evaluated how users experience the use of the WAP.
Materials and Methods
Three-dimensional gait analysis, using an eight-camera Vicon motion capture system, was completed for 16 participants (mean age, 51.4 ± 5.5; 75% male, amputation etiology 63% trauma) when walking independently over level ground (baseline) and sand (gait adaptation response). Outcome variables were spatiotemporal data and kinematic data for the hip, knee, and ankle, and additionally, a purposefully designed Water Activity Prosthesis Survey was completed.
Results
The results demonstrated cautious gait with reduced walking speed (P

Source: JPO Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics - March 17, 2020 Category: Orthopaedics Tags: ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research