Understanding the dynamic stability of lower limb amputees during gait
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding the influence of symmetry manipulations on lower limb amputee walking gait and dynamic stability.
IRAS ID
203582
Contact name
Maria Bisele
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Nottingham Trent University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 19 days
Research summary
There are over 1.6 million amputees in the U.S. and 5-6000 amputations recorded per annum in the UK. These numbers are expected to double by 2050 because of the increasing aging population and the increasing adverse health issues, representing a significant, growing problem in western society (Ziegler-Graham et al. 2008). A lower limb amputation results in the loss of the biological joint structures such as the ankle and knee, along with the associated musculature thus amputees adopt certain compensatory mechanisms to have be able to walk. A common compensatory mechanisms is associated with asymmetrical gait. Asymmetrical gait during walking refers to different characteristics governing right and left limb during walking e.g. more power is utilised in the hip of in the prosthetic limb of an amputee in comparison to the non-prosthetic limb. Able-bodied gait, on the other hand, is symmetrical which means the characteristics of both limbs are usually the same. Rehabilitation interventions are aimed to re-educate amputees to abandon these compensatory mechanisms and walk in a manner similar to non-amputees. However lower limb amputees have been shown to fall more often when compared to age-matched individuals without lower limb amputation. Furthermore, it has become apparent that these mechanisms facilitate an amputee’s balance and thus changing them would result in the reduction of balance which means they are more likely to fall. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to investigate whether walking in a manner which is more similar to non-amputees, causes amputees to have reduced balance. This will allow the evaluation of conventional rehabilitation methods and it can be established if these methods need to be reconsidered to allow amputees to walk in a more efficient manner rather than adopting a walking techniques which are similar to those of non-amputees, however could essentially be harmful to them.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EM/0311
Date of REC Opinion
12 Sep 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion