Article

When negotiating irregular surfaces, the control of dynamic stability is
challenged. In this study, we compared the adjustments in stepping behaviour and
arm-swing of 18 unilateral transtibial amputees and 17 able-bodied participants
when walking on flat and irregular surfaces. Experimental findings revealed that
unilateral transtibial amputees reduced their gait velocity only slightly when
walking on irregular surfaces. Analyses of the temporal gait characteristics,
i.e. stride time, stance time, double-support time and step frequency, showed no
statistically significant adjustments. Interestingly, the amputees did not
increase the stability margins for lateral balance which were calculated based on
the concept of the "extrapolated center of mass". Furthermore, they did not
increase their step width, which was already wide when walking on the flat
surface. However, amputees did increase the lateral component of relative
arm-swing velocity in order to walk stable on irregular surfaces.
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Langue : ANGLAIS