Article

The alterations in gait pattern of people with transfemoral
amputation leave them more susceptible to musculoskeletal injury. Principal
component analysis is a method that reduces the amount of gait data and allows
analyzing the entire waveform. OBJECTIVES: To use the principal component
analysis to compare the ground reaction force and center of pressure displacement
waveforms obtained during gait between able-bodied subjects and both limbs of
individuals with transfemoral amputation. STUDY DESIGN: This is a transversal
study with a convenience sample. METHODS: We used a force plate and pressure
plate to record the anterior-posterior, medial-lateral and vertical ground
reaction force, and anterior-posterior and medial-lateral center of pressure
positions of 12 participants with transfemoral amputation and 20 able-bodied
subjects during gait. The principal component analysis was performed to compare
the gait waveforms between the participants with transfemoral amputation and the
able-bodied individuals. RESULTS: The principal component analysis model
explained between 74% and 93% of the data variance. In all ground reaction force
and center of pressure waveforms relevant portions were identified; and always at
least one principal component presented scores statistically different (p < 0.05)
between the groups of participants in these relevant portions. CONCLUSION:
Principal component analysis was able to discriminate many portions of the stance
phase between both lower limbs of people with transfemoral amputation compared to
the able-bodied participants. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Principal component analysis
reduced the amount of data, allowed analyzing the whole waveform, and identified
specific sub-phases of gait that were different between the groups. Therefore,
this approach seems to be a powerful tool to be used in gait evaluation and
following the rehabilitation status of people with transfemoral amputation.
CI - (c) The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics 2015.

Langue : ANGLAIS