Gait patterns of transtibial amputee patients walking indoors barefoot.

Abstract

To evaluate the gait patterns of lower limb amputee patients walking with and without shoes and to identify differences in barefoot gait patterns when using different prosthetic feet. Optoelectronic three-dimensional motion analysis of gait was performed on six transtibial amputees using a solid ankle cushion heel foot and a single-axis foot, both with and without shoes. Gait abnormalities were observed during barefoot walking when the solid ankle cushion heel foot was used. These included knee joint hyperextension of 9.9 +/- 2.0 degrees and the loss of ankle plantar flexion in the early stance phase. When the single-axis foot was used, knee flexion thrust declined from 9.9 +/- 3.7 degrees to 7.2 +/- 3.8 degrees and ankle plantar flexion decreased from 9.9 +/- 2.8 degrees to 7.0 +/- 2.1 degrees during the early stance phase. In transtibial amputees, significant gait abnormalities were observed during barefoot walking using the solid ankle cushion heel foot. These gait patterns improved, however, with use of a single-axis prosthetic foot, which permits a further plantar flexion after the initial contact.