power generation.
11,14
The few signi
ficant kinematic and
kinetic differences observed demonstrated prevalence less
than 18.8%. Thus, it appears that knee deviations of the
intact limb noted in older populations with a TTA
11,14,16
may not frequently occur in our young population with a
TTA this early following independent ambulation.
In contrast to Bateni et al
10
who reported an increase in
hip
flexion of the intact limb during stance, we observed a
trend toward increased extension throughout the gait cycle
compared to the AB group. During swing, individuals with
a TTA demonstrated signi
ficant decreases in hip flexion and
abduction of the intact limb not previously reported in the
literature. These deviations were 31.3% and 56.3% preva-
lent, respectively, and may be associated with the signi
ficant
decrease in swing time and a rapid transition onto the intact
limb. Consistent with these results, individuals with a TTA
demonstrated a signi
ficant increase in swing hip extension
moments at the intact limb, likely in preparation for initial
contact with a shortened step length. However, most intact
limb hip kinetic values were within the NRR with less than
32% prevalence. Similar to the intact limb ankle and knee,
individuals with a TTA in this study did not frequently
exhibit hip deviations reported in populations with a longer
history of prosthetic ambulation.
10,12,14
Pelvis/Trunk
To the best of our knowledge, no study has reported pelvis
and trunk biomechanical data for individuals with a TTA
in all three planes of motion. Consistent with a previous
report of asymmetry in pelvic obliquity,
13
our participants
exhibited a signi
ficant decrease in pelvic drop on the intact
side with 37.5% prevalence. Although we found signi
fi-
cantly decreased frontal plane pelvic ROM using group
comparisons, all individual values were within the NRR.
The 0% deviation prevalence is consistent with the work
of Rueda et al
30
suggesting no difference between TTA and
AB groups. In addition to the frontal plane deviations, indi-
viduals with a TTA exhibited a signi
ficant decrease in ante-
rior pelvic tilt compared to the AB group with 31.5%
prevalence. The presence of pelvic and trunk deviations
early following independent ambulation and their potential
links to the development of low back pain
13,31
suggest lon-
gitudinal study of pelvic and trunk deviations and their rela-
tionship to low back pain may be warranted.
CONCLUSION
Prosthetic limb deviations identi
fied and characterized using
group mean and prevalence approaches are in general agree-
ment with, and add to, those reported in the literature. Spe-
ci
fically, knee and hip deviations observed in the prosthetic
limb are indicative of known compensations used to control
the knee during stance. Decreased prosthetic ankle power
generation during push off did not, however, appear to elicit
compensations in the intact limb, knee, and hip. Further,
individuals with a TTA in this study exhibited few of the
intact limb deviations that have been previously reported.
Inconsistencies between our data and previous literature may
be associated with differences in age, activity level, or pros-
thetic gait experience. Prior data demonstrating recovery of
normative metabolic cost of walking and greater function in
the injured service member as compared to civilian cohorts
are consistent with the reduced deviations observed here.
32
Finally, pelvic and trunk deviations in all three planes of
motion are reported here for the
first time. The use the NRR
method allows clinicians and researchers to identify gait
deviations in a single individual matching clinical practice.
Further study is needed to determine the exact etiology of
these deviations, and their association with the development
of secondary musculoskeletal conditions.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank our colleague, Kelly M. Rodriguez, for her efforts in data collec-
tion analysis and insight on this manuscript. We also thank Dr. Benjamin
J. Darter, Linda Waetjen, and Melissa Brawner for contribution to
data collection.
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The Prevalence of Gait Deviations in Individuals With Transtibial Amputation