Article

Carbon fiber running-specific prostheses (RSPs) have allowed individuals with
lower extremity amputation (ILEA) to actively participate in sporting activities
including competitive sports. In spite of this positive trait, the RSPs have not
been thoroughly evaluated regarding potential injury risks due to abnormal
loading during running. Vertical impact peak (VIP) and average loading rate
(VALR) of the vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) have been associated with
running injuries in able-bodied runners but not for ILEA.
The purpose of this
study was to investigate vGRF loading in ILEA runners using RSPs across a range
of running speeds. Eight ILEA with unilateral transtibial amputations and eight
control subjects performed overground running at three speeds (2.5, 3.0, and
3.5m/s). From vGRF, we determined VIP and VALR, which was defined as the change
in force divided by the time of the interval between 20 and 80% of the VIP. We
observed that VIP and VALR increased in both ILEA and control limbs with an
increase in running speed. Further, the VIP and VALR in ILEA intact limbs were
significantly greater than ILEA prosthetic limbs and control subject limbs for
this range of running speeds. These results suggest that (1) loading variables
increase with running speed not only in able-bodied runners, but also in ILEA
using RSPs, and (2) the intact limb in ILEA may be exposed to a greater risk of
running related injury than the prosthetic limb or able-bodied limbs.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS