Biomechanical and Kinematic Gait Analysis in Lower Limb Amputees: Cross-Sectional Study.
Natali Olaya Mira, Luz Marina Gómez Hernández, Carolina Viloria Barragán and 2 others
PMID 40729628WHAT IT FOUND
Above-knee amputees walked less far in two minutes and had lower cadence and gait symmetry than below-knee amputees, while walking speed was similar and both groups loaded the intact limb more.
Key findings
01Above-knee amputees walked less far in the two-minute test (59.0 m vs 85.8 m), had lower cadence (82.9 vs 90.5 steps/min) and lower symmetry index (63.5% vs 81.7%) than below-knee amputees.
02Walking speed did not differ significantly (0.98 m/s in both groups), and body-weight distribution was not significantly different, but both groups loaded the intact limb more than the amputated limb.
03Pelvic obliquity had the largest variability and deviated from nonamputated reference values, especially in above-knee amputees, while pelvic tilt was more anterior in above-knee amputees.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The sample was small and included only independent walkers without aids, so it does not describe patients who need assistive devices or are newly amputated. Participants were from a specific age and amputation-level group, so results may not apply to older adults, bilateral amputees or people with other conditions. The study measured people at one time point, so it cannot show whether a prosthetic change or therapy would improve these values. Prosthetic suspension varied, and all below-knee amputees used a knee brace while most above-knee amputees used atmospheric suspension, which may have affected gait measures. Walking was done in a controlled environment at a self-determined pace, which may not match everyday walking.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest, and no funding source is reported in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that above-knee amputation always causes worse gait or that these measurements identify a modifiable deficit. The study was small and cross-sectional, only compared two amputation levels in independent walkers, and walking speed and several limb-level indices were similar.