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Kinematic adaptations to a novel walking task with a prosthetic simulator

Vanicek, Natalie; Sanderson, David J.; Chua, Romeo; Kenyon, Dave; Inglis, J. Timothy

Authors

David J. Sanderson

Romeo Chua

Dave Kenyon

J. Timothy Inglis



Abstract

The process of relearning locomotor skills is a complex one for the person with a lower-limb amputation. Tracking individuals from the moment they are fitted with a prosthesis until they become competent walkers is a difficult task to achieve with a group of lower-limb amputees. To counter this difficulty, a prosthetic simulator (PS) was designed and created in-house to allow able-bodied individuals to walk in a novel situation. The purpose of the current study was to follow the changes in gait variables during a novel walking task when lower-limb mechanics were altered. Kinematic data were collected from ten able-bodied individuals during 30 minutes of continuous walking with the PS without any instructions. Walking speed, body support times, step characteristics, and the vertical orientation of body segments were analyzed during one time constant, equivalent to 63% of final walking speed. Separate repeated-measures analyses of variance were conducted with p < 0.05. Participants were immediately able to walk unassisted with the PS. Walking speed was initially slow but increased significantly with time (p < 0.000). Time in stance was significantly greater on the intact limb (p < 0.000) and significantly decreased over distance (p < 0.000). Prosthetic step length was significantly longer than intact step length (p < 0.000). Lower-limb segments were significantly less vertically oriented at prosthetic/intact foot contact over time (p < 0.000). Participants were able to adapt quickly to the new locomotor constraints imposed by a PS by modifying kinematic variables. Changes in gait parameters occurred quickly and were retained throughout a 1-week period, suggesting that adaptive strategies were developed early in the task. © 2007 American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists.

Citation

Vanicek, N., Sanderson, D. J., Chua, R., Kenyon, D., & Inglis, J. T. (2007). Kinematic adaptations to a novel walking task with a prosthetic simulator. Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics, 19(1), 29-35. https://doi.org/10.1097/JPO.0b013e31802d4668

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date 2007-01
Deposit Date Jan 21, 2021
Journal Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics
Print ISSN 1040-8800
Publisher Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 19
Issue 1
Pages 29-35
DOI https://doi.org/10.1097/JPO.0b013e31802d4668
Keywords Adaptation; After-effect; Amputation; Biomechanics; Gait; Simulator
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3635315
Publisher URL https://journals.lww.com/jpojournal/Fulltext/2007/01000/Kinematic_Adaptations_to_a_Novel_Walking_Task_With.8.aspx