Exploring the correlation between gait speed and balance in limb prosthesis users: A pilot study.

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Science
• Biomechanics
• Prosthetics

Background:

• Improving balance, stability, and locomotion is crucial for societal participation after limb loss.
• In the general population, faster walking speed is linked to better balance.
• The influence of prosthesis use on this correlation in individuals with limb loss is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if the correlation between walking speed and balance holds true for individuals using prostheses.
• To explore the impact of prosthetic devices on the relationship between gait speed and balance.

Main Methods:

• Recruited participants with various levels of limb loss.
• Administered the Ten-Meter Walk Test and Narrowing Beam Walking Test.
• Analyzed data using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, excluding outliers.

Main Results:

• A medium to strong positive correlation (ρ = 0.681) was found between walking speed and balance scores in the analyzed sample.
• The relationship was observed after excluding outliers, indicating a general trend.
• Outliers suggest the correlation is not universal across all individuals with limb loss.

Conclusions:

• Findings align with previous research in non-amputee populations but highlight variability in individuals with limb loss.
• Factors like activity level and prosthetic technology may confound the gait speed-balance relationship.
• Separate evaluation of gait speed and balance is recommended for tailored rehabilitation strategies, pending larger study confirmation.