title: Does increased prosthetic weight affect gait speed and patient preference in dysvascular transfemoral amputees?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if increased prosthetic weight affects gait speed in dysvascular transfemoral amputees and to see if there is any patient preference for lighter versus heavier prostheses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized prospective double-blind crossover trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient, tertiary care, amputee clinic in Ontario, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 10 subjects with unilateral transfemoral amputations because of peripheral vascular disease. All subjects were independent community ambulators over 50 years old.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seemingly identical weights of 150g (placebo weight), 770g, and 1625g were added to the prosthesis 14cm below the knee joint.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-minute walk test (2MWT) and subject preference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 2MWT results were not significantly influenced by weight added (mean, 53.4+/-28.4m, 55.1+/-28.9m, and 52.8+/-26.7m for 150g, 770g, and 1625g of added weight, respectively). Subject preference revealed that more than half preferred a weighted prosthesis over the "placebo" weight (5 subjects preferred 770g added, 4 subjects preferred 150g added, 1 preferred 1625g added).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term intervention with increased prosthetic mass had no significant adverse affect on gait speed, and more than half of the subjects preferred an added mass condition.
authors.affiliation: St. John's Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada. bmeikle@sthohnsrehab.com
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meikle
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boulias
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pauley
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Devlin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D014892:Weight Perception