Article

The purpose of this research was to investigate the influence of sock addition
and removal on residual-limb fluid volume in people using prosthetic limbs. We
used bioimpedance analysis to measure residual-limb extracellular fluid volume on
28 transtibial amputee subjects during 30 min test sessions. Upon addition of a
one-ply polyester sock, residual-limb fluid volume changes ranged from -4.0% to
0.8% (mean -0.9 +/- 1.3%) of the initial limb fluid volume. Changes for sock
removal ranged from -1.2% to 2.8% (mean 0.5 +/- 0.8%). Subjects who reduced in
fluid volume with both addition and removal of a sock and subjects with high
positive ratios between the fluid-volume loss upon sock addition and gain upon
sock removal (high add/remove [AR] ratios) tended to have arterial disease, were
obese, and were smokers. Subjects with low positive AR ratios, subjects who
increased in fluid volume both with sock addition and removal, and a single
subject who increased in fluid volume with sock addition and decreased with sock
removal tended to be nonsmokers and either individuals in good health without
complications or individuals without arterial problems. Results are relevant for
the anticipation of limb volume changes during prosthetic fitting and toward the
design of adjustable-socket technologies.

Langue : ANGLAIS