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Published on: May 8, 2014
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Transhumeral prosthesis use and disuse affects whole-body angular momentum
Julia A Dunn1, Nicholas G Gomez2, Bob Wong3
1Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, 590 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, 36 S Wasatch Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)
|October 25, 2024
Summary
Individuals with transhumeral limb loss experience altered gait dynamics, leading to increased fall risk. Wearing a prosthesis may improve balance by regulating whole-body angular momentum during walking.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Movement Science
- Prosthetics and Orthotics
Background:
- Transhumeral limb loss is associated with an elevated risk of falls.
- Altered upper-body kinematics during gait may contribute to balance impairments.
- Understanding movement control is crucial for mitigating fall risk in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whole-body angular momentum as a measure of movement control in individuals with transhumeral limb loss.
- To understand how upper-body kinematics during gait contribute to dynamic balance.
- To compare gait parameters between individuals with and without transhumeral limb loss.
Main Methods:
- Eight participants with transhumeral limb loss and eight able-bodied controls completed gait trials at self-selected speeds.
- Participants with limb loss walked with and without their prosthesis.
- Whole-body angular momentum and coefficient of cancellation were calculated and analyzed using statistical parametric mapping and ANOVA.
Main Results:
- Decreased segment-to-segment cancellation was observed in transhumeral walking conditions compared to controls.
- Whole-body angular momentum differed in the sagittal plane and decreased in the transverse plane when using a prosthesis.
- Walking without a prosthesis led to increased variability in whole-body angular momentum.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with transhumeral limb loss exhibit dysregulated whole-body angular momentum during gait.
- This dysregulation is linked to reduced segment coordination and increased movement variability.
- Wearing a transhumeral prosthesis may help reduce fall risk and fatigue by improving dynamic balance.
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