Article

Individuals with transfemoral amputation must adapt their gait to the absence of one natural limb, causing an impact throughout the body. A better understanding of these changes would provide safer and more efficient development of prevention and rehabilitation strategies. The aim of this study was to compare the center of pressure (CoP) variables between the amputated limb and the sound limb of subjects with transfemoral amputation and able-bodied subjects during gait. A FootScan pressure plate (RsScan, Olen, Belgium) was used to record the CoP motion of 14 individuals with transfemoral amputation (56.7 ± 11.7 years old) and 21 physically active able-bodied subjects (68.3 ± 9.4 years old) during gait at self-selected speed. The data showed a normal distribution pattern, and statistical tests showed significant differences (p < 0.05) at various spatial and temporal variables of CoP between the amputees' lower limbs, as well as differences between both limbs of people with amputation and able-bodied subjects. There seems to be a compensation in the sound limb caused by the lack of a contralateral physiological limb that culminates in taking the subject out of the normal range. The CoP has an asymmetrical pattern in the lower limbs during gait of individuals with transfemoral amputation; consequently, prevention and interventions strategies in this population may consider these characteristics.

Langue : ANGLAIS