Spatial, temporal and kinematic characteristics of traumatic transtibial amputees' gait

Presented study gives findings of temporal-spatial kinematic gait analysis in 12 male adults, war trauma transtibial (TT) amputees fitted with prosthesis compared to 12 able-bodied persons. Results disclose asymmetries between the amputated, prosthetic and healthy legs of amputees, as well as between TT amputees and non-disabled persons. Amputees in comparison with able-bodied persons, generally, showed significantly increased swing-time (ms) (p < 0.01). Prosthetic, right legs of amputees showed decreased stance-phase (ms and % GC) (p < 0.01) and increased swing-time (ms) (p < 0.05), compared with right legs of able-bodied persons while statistical significance was reached (p < 0.01) for decreased stance-time (% stride and ms), increased swing-time (% stride and ms), decreased swing velocity (m/s), increased anterior step length and decreased stride length (p < 0.05), compared with contra lateral, left legs of amputees. Our conclusion is that instrumented kinematic gait analysis study is able to provide assessment about the way prosthetic TT amputees walk.