Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of mirror feedback on upright stance
control in elderly transfemoral amputees. DESIGN: Before and after intervention
trials. SETTING: University medical bioengineering laboratory. PARTICIPANTS:
Elderly transfemoral amputees (N=12). INTERVENTIONS: Participants were asked to
stand upright, as immobile as possible, in 2 Eyes-open and Mirror-feedback
experimental conditions. The latter experimental condition consisted of supplying
the participants with their frontal reflection by positioning a mirror in front of them.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Weight-bearing symmetry and the displacements of
the center of foot pressure under the nonaffected limb and the prosthetic limb.
RESULTS: Mirror feedback did not modify weight-bearing symmetry and had different
effects on the center of foot pressure displacements under the nonaffected limb
and prosthetic limb: a decreased center of foot pressure surface area was
observed in the Mirror-feedback condition relative to the Eyes-open condition
under the nonaffected limb, whereas no significant difference between the
Eyes-open condition and the Mirror-feedback condition was observed under the
prosthetic limb. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that elderly transfemoral amputees
were able to integrate augmented visual biofeedback through the use of
mirror-reflected body image to improve their upright stance control. The present
findings could have implications for clinical practice and rehabilitation.

Langue : ANGLAIS