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Gait characteristics of persons with bilateral transtibial amputations

Po-Fu Su, MS, et al.

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No published studies have reported the gait characteristics of persons with bilateral transtibial amputations. This study investigated the gait of 19 persons with bilateral transtibial amputations. The results showed that subjects walked with better symmetry than individuals with unilateral transtibial amputations. Compared with nondisabled persons, the subjects walked at slower speeds and lower cadences, had shorter step lengths and wider step widths, and displayed hip hiking during swing phase. Additionally, the subjects had reduced ankle motion in stance phase compared with nondisabled individuals. These results are important for prosthetists fitting prostheses on persons with bilateral transtibial amputations. Further studies are needed to enhance prosthesis function and improve the gait of persons with amputations.


Volume 44 Number 4 2007
Pages 491 — 502

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