Effects of mirror feedback on upright stance control in elderly transfemoral amputees.

Abstract

To investigate the effects of mirror feedback on upright stance control in elderly transfemoral amputees. Before and after intervention trials. University medical bioengineering laboratory. Elderly transfemoral amputees (N=12). Participants were asked to stand upright, as immobile as possible, in 2 Eyes-open and Mirror-feedback experimental conditions. The latter experimental condition consisted of supplying the participants with their frontal reflection by positioning a mirror in front of them. Weight-bearing symmetry and the displacements of the center of foot pressure under the nonaffected limb and the prosthetic limb. Mirror feedback did not modify weight-bearing symmetry and had different effects on the center of foot pressure displacements under the nonaffected limb and prosthetic limb: a decreased center of foot pressure surface area was observed in the Mirror-feedback condition relative to the Eyes-open condition under the nonaffected limb, whereas no significant difference between the Eyes-open condition and the Mirror-feedback condition was observed under the prosthetic limb. Results suggest that elderly transfemoral amputees were able to integrate augmented visual biofeedback through the use of mirror-reflected body image to improve their upright stance control. The present findings could have implications for clinical practice and rehabilitation.