Article

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between
stride-to-stride fluctuations and prosthesis preference. Thirteen individuals
with unilateral, transtibial amputation consented to participate. Individuals
walked on a treadmill for 3 min with their prescribed and an alternate
prosthesis. Stride-to-stride fluctuations were quantified with the largest
Lyapunov exponent (LyE) of each joint flexion/extension time series. The change
in the LyE was calculated for each major lower-limb joint for both conditions.
Participants indicated preference between the prostheses on a continuous visual
analog scale. The change in the LyE was correlated with the degree of preference
between the two prostheses at the prosthetic ankle. The change in the LyE of the
prosthetic ankle was strongly related to the degree of preference (r = 0.629, p =
0.02). Thus, stride-to-stride fluctuations, quantified by the LyE, are strongly
related to the patient's perception of the prosthesis. As a result, the LyE is
the first objective measure to detect changes in gait that relate to the
patient's perception of the prosthesis. The LyE should be further examined as a
potentially effective prescriptive and outcome measure in prosthetic
rehabilitation.

Langue : ANGLAIS