title: Factors affecting stair-ascent patterns in unilateral transfemoral amputees.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patterns and ease of stair ambulation influence amputees' level of satisfaction with their rehabilitation, confidence level, and motivation for continued rehabilitation, demonstrating the importance of stair-ascent data for rehabilitation. However, little is known about the determinants of stair-ascent patterns in unilateral transfemoral amputees.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the factors affecting stair-ascent patterns in transfemoral amputees.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stair-ascent patterns were evaluated using the Stair Assessment Index. We collected Stair Assessment Index data as well as demographic and clinical data (sex, age, height, mass, amputation side, reason for amputation, time since amputation, and residual limb length) from 25 transfemoral amputees.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analyses revealed that age was negatively correlated and time since amputation was positively correlated with Stair Assessment Index. In contrast, height, body mass, and residual limb lengths were not correlated with Stair Assessment Index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that in unilateral transfemoral amputee, (1) both age and time since amputation could affect stair-climbing patterns and (2) residual limb length should not be a limiting factor for stair climbing if the transfemoral amputee has a certain minimum residual limb length.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rehabilitation teams should carefully consider nonmodifiable predisposing factors such as age and time since amputation. However, they may be able to carry on stair-ascent rehabilitation for transfemoral amputees disregarding residual limb length (depending on the length).
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation for the Movement Functions, Research Institute, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hobara
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tominaga
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Nobuya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000674:Amputees / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Rehabilitation; gait; outcome measures