Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a newly developed biofeedback device enabling lower-limb
amputees to identify various floor conditions. DESIGN:
Self-control with repeated
measures (with and without the biofeedback device) within the amputee group, and
group control comparing between amputee and nonamputee groups. SETTING:
University locomotion laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Five lower-limb amputees and 8
nonamputees (N=13). INTERVENTIONS: A wearable biofeedback device, which
identified different floor conditions by analyzing the force patterns under the
prosthetic feet and provided vibration cues in response to different floor
conditions, was provided to the amputees. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The subjects
stepped on a foam platform concealing a small object or no object at 1 of the 4
locations of the foot sole. Subjects were asked whether there was a small object
under their feet and the location of the object if it existed. The test was
repeated with 4 different object types and 4 object locations. The success rate
of floor identification was evaluated. RESULTS: Without the biofeedback device,
nonamputee subjects (76.56%) identified floor conditions better than amputees
(22.5%) significantly (P<.001). On using the biofeedback device, the amputees
significantly improved (P<.01) their success rate showing no significant
difference (P=.746) compared with the nonamputees. No significant differences
were found among object types (P=.689). CONCLUSIONS: Amputees performed
significantly worse than nonamputees in recognizing the different floor
conditions used in this experiment. With the biofeedback device, amputees
significantly improved their abilities in identifying different floor conditions.
Future attempts could configure the device to allow it to provide warning signals
in response to fall-inducing conditions.
CI - Copyright (c) 2016 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS