Indicators of dynamic stability in transtibial prosthesis users.

An improved understanding of factors related to dynamic stability in lower-limb prosthesis users is important, given the high occurrence of falls in this population. Current methods of assessing stability are unable to adequately characterize dynamic stability over a variety of walking conditions. F-Scan Mobile has been used to collect plantar pressure data and six extracted parameters were useful measures of dynamic stability. The aim of this study was to investigate dynamic stability in individuals with unilateral transtibial amputation based on these six parameters. Twenty community ambulators with a unilateral transtibial amputation walked over level ground, uneven ground, stairs, and a ramp while plantar pressure data were collected. For each limb (intact and prosthetic) and condition, six stability parameters related to plantar center-of-pressure perturbations and gait temporal parameters, were computed from the plantar pressure data. Parameter values were compared between limbs, walking condition, and groups (unilateral transtibial prosthesis users and able-bodied subjects). Differences in parameters were found between limbs and conditions, and between prosthesis users and able-bodied individuals. Further research could investigate optimizing parameter calculations for unilateral transtibial prosthesis users and define relationships between potential for falls and the dynamic stability measures. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.