Stair walking relies on concentric contraction of the ankle plantarflexor and knee extensor muscles, which are either absent or weakened in transtibial amputees. As a result the risk of falling is increased in this population. The aim of this study was to compare the gait patterns of transtibial amputee fallers and non-fallers during stair ascent. Eleven participants (fallers = 6; non-fallers = 5) walked along a 3-m walkway and ascended a three-step staircase with handrails, at their self-selected pace, while three-dimensional kinematic data were collected from the lower limbs. A force plate was embedded into the first step and kinetic data were measured for the intact lead limb only. The fallers walked significantly faster (p = 0.00) and exhibited less hip flexion (p = 0.05) and less anterior pelvic tilt (p = 0.04) compared to the non-fallers. The fallers had significantly greater first and second peak vertical ground reaction force (GRF) on the intact limb than the non-fallers (p = 0.05 and p = 0.01, respectively) contributing to the significantly larger ankle (p = 0.02) and hip moments (p = 0.04). These findings suggested the amputee non-fallers performed mechanically demanding tasks more cautiously. Two of the participants self-selected a ‘step to’ gait pattem, ascending one step at a time. This may be considered a compensatory mechanism for the lack of ankle mobility and functional muscle performance in these two transtibial amputees.
%0 Journal Article
%1 Vanicek2010
%A Vanicek, Natalie
%A Strike, Siobhan Catherine
%A McNaughton, Lars
%A Polman, Remco
%D 2010
%J Prosthetics and Orthotics International
%K Lower Limb Kinematic Kinetic Differences Amputee Fallers Falls Fall
%N 4
%P 399-410
%R 10.3109/03093646.2010.480964
%T Lower Limb Kinematic and Kinetic Differences between Transtibial Amputee Fallers and Non-Fallers
%U http://poi.sagepub.com/content/34/4/399.abstract
%V 34
%X Stair walking relies on concentric contraction of the ankle plantarflexor and knee extensor muscles, which are either absent or weakened in transtibial amputees. As a result the risk of falling is increased in this population. The aim of this study was to compare the gait patterns of transtibial amputee fallers and non-fallers during stair ascent. Eleven participants (fallers = 6; non-fallers = 5) walked along a 3-m walkway and ascended a three-step staircase with handrails, at their self-selected pace, while three-dimensional kinematic data were collected from the lower limbs. A force plate was embedded into the first step and kinetic data were measured for the intact lead limb only. The fallers walked significantly faster (p = 0.00) and exhibited less hip flexion (p = 0.05) and less anterior pelvic tilt (p = 0.04) compared to the non-fallers. The fallers had significantly greater first and second peak vertical ground reaction force (GRF) on the intact limb than the non-fallers (p = 0.05 and p = 0.01, respectively) contributing to the significantly larger ankle (p = 0.02) and hip moments (p = 0.04). These findings suggested the amputee non-fallers performed mechanically demanding tasks more cautiously. Two of the participants self-selected a ‘step to’ gait pattem, ascending one step at a time. This may be considered a compensatory mechanism for the lack of ankle mobility and functional muscle performance in these two transtibial amputees.
@article{Vanicek2010,
abstract = {Stair walking relies on concentric contraction of the ankle plantarflexor and knee extensor muscles, which are either absent or weakened in transtibial amputees. As a result the risk of falling is increased in this population. The aim of this study was to compare the gait patterns of transtibial amputee fallers and non-fallers during stair ascent. Eleven participants (fallers = 6; non-fallers = 5) walked along a 3-m walkway and ascended a three-step staircase with handrails, at their self-selected pace, while three-dimensional kinematic data were collected from the lower limbs. A force plate was embedded into the first step and kinetic data were measured for the intact lead limb only. The fallers walked significantly faster (p = 0.00) and exhibited less hip flexion (p = 0.05) and less anterior pelvic tilt (p = 0.04) compared to the non-fallers. The fallers had significantly greater first and second peak vertical ground reaction force (GRF) on the intact limb than the non-fallers (p = 0.05 and p = 0.01, respectively) contributing to the significantly larger ankle (p = 0.02) and hip moments (p = 0.04). These findings suggested the amputee non-fallers performed mechanically demanding tasks more cautiously. Two of the participants self-selected a ‘step to’ gait pattem, ascending one step at a time. This may be considered a compensatory mechanism for the lack of ankle mobility and functional muscle performance in these two transtibial amputees.},
added-at = {2012-01-16T15:51:51.000+0100},
author = {Vanicek, Natalie and Strike, Siobhan Catherine and McNaughton, Lars and Polman, Remco},
biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2d0e7c8273a510b8c08ce7993600487e8/bunke},
doi = {10.3109/03093646.2010.480964},
eprint = {http://poi.sagepub.com/content/34/4/399.full.pdf+html},
file = {Vanicek2010.pdf:Vanicek2010.pdf:PDF},
groups = {public},
interhash = {313f5f5a83435706464aee99a212795d},
intrahash = {d0e7c8273a510b8c08ce7993600487e8},
journal = {Prosthetics and Orthotics International},
keywords = {Lower Limb Kinematic Kinetic Differences Amputee Fallers Falls Fall},
number = 4,
pages = {399-410},
timestamp = {2012-01-16T15:51:51.000+0100},
title = {Lower Limb Kinematic and Kinetic Differences between Transtibial Amputee Fallers and Non-Fallers},
url = {http://poi.sagepub.com/content/34/4/399.abstract},
username = {bunke},
volume = 34,
year = 2010
}