Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026
Engineering Platform and Experimental Protocol for Design and Evaluation of a Neurally-controlled Powered Transfemoral Prosthesis
Published on: July 22, 2014
Balance control on a moving platform in unilateral lower limb amputees
A H Vrieling1, H G van Keeken, T Schoppen
1Center for Rehabilitation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. a.h.vrieling@rev.umcg.nl
Objective:
To study balance control on a moving platform in lower limb amputees.
Design:
Observational cohort study.
Participants:
Unilateral transfemoral and transtibial amputees and able-bodied control subjects.
Interventions:
Balance control on a platform that moved in the anteroposterior direction was tested with eyes open, blindfolded and while performing a dual task.
Main Outcome Measures:
Weight bearing symmetry, anteroposterior ground reaction force and centre of pressure shift.
Results:
Compared to able-bodied subjects, in amputees the anteroposterior ground reaction force was larger in the prosthetic and non-affected limb, and the centre of pressure displacement was increased in the non-affected limb and decreased in the prosthetic limb. In amputees body weight was loaded more on the non-affected limb. Blindfolding or adding a dual task did not influence the outcome measures importantly.
Conclusion:
The results of this study indicate that experienced unilateral amputees with a high activity level compensate for the loss of ankle strategy by increasing movements and loading in the non-affected limb. The ability to cope with balance perturbations is limited in the prosthetic limb. To enable amputees to manage all possible balance disturbances in real life in a safe manner, we recommend to improve muscle strength and control in the non-affected limb and to train complex balance tasks in challenging environments during rehabilitation.
