title: The effects of laterality on obstacle crossing performance in unilateral trans-tibial amputees.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Unilateral trans-tibial amputees have bilaterally reduced toe clearance, and an increased risk of foot contact, while crossing obstacles compared to the able-bodied. While the able-bodied tend to lead with a 'preferred' limb it is equivocal whether amputees prefer to lead with the intact or prosthetic limb. This study determined the effects of laterality, compared to side of amputation, on amputees' obstacle crossing performance. To help understand why laterality could affect performance we also assessed knee proprioception for both limbs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Foot placement and toe clearance parameters were recorded while nine amputees crossed obstacles of varying heights leading with both their intact and prosthetic limbs. Joint-position sense was also assessed. Participants self-reported which limb was their preferred (dominant) limb.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in foot placements or toe clearance variability across lead-limb conditions. There were no significant differences in toe clearance between intact and prosthetic lead-limbs (p=0.28) but toe clearance was significantly higher when amputees led with their preferred compared to non-preferred limb (p=0.025). There was no difference in joint-position sense between the intact and residual knees (p=0.34) but joint-position sense tended to be more accurate for the preferred, compared to non-preferred limb (p=0.08).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that, despite the mechanical constraints imposed by use of a prosthesis, laterality may be as important in lower-limb amputees as it is in the able bodied. This suggests that amputees should be encouraged to cross obstacles leading with their preferred limb.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK. Electronic address: a.r.deasha@bradford.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: De Asha
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK. Electronic address: j.buckley@bradford.ac.uk.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Buckley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000674:Amputees / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery; D014034:Toes / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Laterality; Obstacle crossing; Rehabilitation; Toe-clearance; Unilateral trans-tibial amputee