Correlation between postural stability and fall risk in trans-femoral amputees due to muscle fatigue.
Mohd Khairuddin Mohd Safee, Noor Azuan Abu Osman
PMID 39354923WHAT IT FOUND
After a 30-minute sit-to-stand task, people with transfemoral amputations showed significantly worse balance and higher fall risk scores.
Controls did not show a significant change in fall risk. Strong correlations between poor balance and fall risk were found in the amputee group.
Key findings
01Postural stability indices increased significantly after fatigue in the transfemoral amputation group, specifically the overall stability index and anterior-posterior stability index.
02Fall risk scores increased significantly after fatigue in the transfemoral amputation group, but the increase in the control group was not statistically significant.
03There was a significant positive correlation between fall risk and postural stability measures (OSI and APSI) in participants with transfemoral amputations.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was very small (7 per group), limiting the generalizability and statistical power of the findings. The study included only male participants with normal BMI and high functional status (Medicare Functional Classification Level 3+), so results may not apply to women, those with higher BMI, or those with lower ambulation abilities. The 30-minute fatigue protocol may not have fully exhausted the control group, as their fall risk did not change significantly, potentially underestimating fatigue effects in healthy individuals. The study design was observational and correlational; it cannot prove that muscle fatigue directly causes falls, only that they are associated in this context.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest and stated the research received no specific external funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these findings apply to all amputees. The study used a very small sample of young, high-functioning men with normal BMI. Results may differ significantly for older adults, women, or those with comorbidities like vascular disease.