Article

Knowledge of transtibial residual limb force and moment loading
during gait can be clinically useful. The research question was whether a
transducer attached between the socket and pylon can be used to detect
differences in loading patterns created by prosthetic feet of different design
and different walking activities in real-world environments outside the gait lab.
Objectives: To develop methods for obtaining, processing, analyzing and
interpreting transducer measurements and examining their clinical usefulness.
Study Design: Case series design. Methods: A convenience sample of four K3-K4
transtibial amputees and a wireless tri-axial transducer mounted distal to the
socket. Activities included self-selected comfortable speed walking, and
ascending and descending ramps and steps. Measurements taken about three
orthogonal axes were processed to produce plots of normalized resultant force
versus normalized resultant moment. Within-subject differences in peak resultant
forces and moments were tested. Results: Loading patterns between feet and
subjects and among the activities were distinctly different. Optimal loading of
peak resultant forces tentatively might occur around 25% and 69% to73% of stance
during self-selected comfortable walking. Ascending and descending ramps is
useful for examining heel and forefoot response. Conclusions: Force-moment plots
obtained from transducer data may assist clinical decision making. Clinical
relevance A pylon-mounted transducer distal to the socket reveals the moments and
forces transmitted to the residual limb and can be used to evaluate the loading
patterns on the residual limb associated with different foot designs and
different everyday activities outside the gait lab.

Langue : ANGLAIS