Article

Alignment - The process and measured orientation of the prosthetic socket
relative to the foot - is important for proper function of a transtibial
prosthesis. Prosthetic alignment is performed by prosthetists using visual gait
observation and amputees' feedback. The aim of this study was to investigate the
effect of transtibial prosthesis malalignment on the moments measured at the base
of the socket: the socket reaction moments. Eleven subjects with transtibial
amputation were recruited from the community. An instrumented prosthesis
alignment component was used to measure socket reaction moments during ambulation
under 17 alignment conditions, including nominally aligned using conventional
clinical methods, and angle perturbations of 3 degrees and 6 degrees (flexion,
extension, abduction, and adduction) and translation perturbations of 5mm and
10mm (anterior, posterior, lateral, and medial) referenced from the nominal
alignment. Coronal alignment perturbations caused systematic changes in the
coronal socket reaction moments. All angle and translation perturbations revealed
statistically significant differences on coronal socket reaction moments compared
to the nominal alignment at 30% and 75% of stance phase (P<0.05). The effect of
sagittal alignment perturbations on sagittal socket reaction moments was not as
responsive as that of the coronal perturbations. The sagittal angle and
translation perturbations of the socket led to statistically significant changes
in minimum moment, maximum moment, and moments at 45% of stance phase in the
sagittal plane. Therefore, malalignment affected the socket reaction moments in
amputees with transtibial prostheses.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS