Neuromuscular adaptations and sensorimotor integration following a unilateral transfemoral amputation.
Claudia Ramos Claret, Georg W Herget, Lukas Kouba and 5 others
PMID 31521190WHAT IT FOUND
Unilateral transfemoral amputees stood with most weight on the intact leg.
The intact leg adjusted balance over a shorter time than either control leg, while the prosthetic leg had a longer adjustment time than the intact leg.
Key findings
01The intact leg of amputees had a shorter balance adjustment time than either leg of controls.
02The prosthetic leg had a longer balance adjustment time than the intact leg, at 171 ± 29 ms versus 111 ± 27 ms.
03Amputees placed most standing force on the intact leg, with 56% of force toward the intact leg with eyes open and 61% with eyes closed.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included a small group of amputees and controls. The amputees differed in prosthesis type, cause of amputation and stump length, so findings may not apply to one prosthetic model. Only quiet standing was tested, not perturbed stance or walking. The comparison of Genium and C-leg prostheses was small and should be confirmed. Prosthesis alignment and weight were not controlled. The study did not test whether training or sensory feedback changes balance.
Declared interests
The named funders were the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, DFG and Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft Freiburg.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the intact-leg timing shows a treatment effect or that a specific prosthesis causes better balance. This was a one-time comparison of two groups, and the study did not test training, prosthetic alignment or sensory feedback.