title: Assessing preparative gait adaptations in persons with transtibial amputation in response to repeated medial-lateral perturbations.
abstract: Preventing loss of balance in individuals with transtibial amputation is important, as they are susceptible to a high frequency of fall related injuries. In order to validate fall prevention and balance therapies, methods to assess gait stability must be developed. Kinematic, temporal-spatial, and center of mass data from six healthy young participants with transtibial amputation were collected during treadmill walking during exposure to 10 randomly ordered discrete medial-lateral perturbations. The 20 strides prior to each perturbation were assessed for anticipatory changes. The only consistent postural adjustment made as a result of the perturbations was a significantly lowered center of mass height (p=0.016).
authors.affiliation: Center for the Intrepid, Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Ft. Sam Houston, TX, 78234, USA; Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego CA, 92134, USA.
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sturdy
authors.affiliation: Center for the Intrepid, Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Ft. Sam Houston, TX, 78234, USA; School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. Electronic address: gatesd@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Deanna H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Gates
authors.affiliation: Center for the Intrepid, Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Ft. Sam Houston, TX, 78234, USA; Department of Physical Therapy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Darter
authors.affiliation: Center for the Intrepid, Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Ft. Sam Houston, TX, 78234, USA.
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wilken
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000674:Amputees / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D056228:Feedback, Sensory; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
keywords: Amputees; Gait; Kinematics; Perturbations; Variability