E Isakov, H Burger, J Krajnik, M Gregoric, C Marincek
Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Department, Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital, Tel-Aviv University School of Medicine, Ra'anana, Israel.
DOI: 10.2340/165019771997297579

The sequence of gait events and symmetry of kinematic parameters between both lower limbs are compromised in below-knee amputees. In the present study the periods of double-limb support and the step length in below-knee amputees were investigated. The symmetry of the two periods of double-limb support occurring in each stride was obviously abnormal (ratio: 0. 74) among temporal and distance parameters. The time of double-limb support (0. 211 +/- 0. 05 seconds) measured from heel-strike of the amputated leg until toe-off of the normal leg was significantly longer (p = 0. 011) when compared with the contralateral leg (0. 173 +/- 0. 04 seconds). The step length of the normal leg (0. 709 +/- 0. 07 m) was significantly (p = 0. 045) shorter than that of the amputated leg (0. 752 +/- 0. 08 m). Most of these differences between measured kinematic parameters can be explained by the limited ability of the prosthesis ankle-foot component to reproduce the normal functions of both foot and ankle.