Weight bearing asymmetry during sit-to-stand can cause musculoskeletal problems in people with lower-limb amputations. A systematic review and meta-analysis found that differences in weight bearing asymmetry and kinematics during sit-to-stand suggested that different strategies are necessary to improve symmetry. For people with transfemoral amputations, the researchers suggested improvements in active prosthetic knees; for people with transtibial amputations, they suggested rehabilitation focused on weight bearing.
The researchers searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and HAL up to June 2022 using keywords and inclusion/exclusion criteria. Eleven studies (102 people with amputations) were included. Data for population, intervention, weight bearing asymmetry, and biomechanical analysis were reported, and standardized mean differences were calculated from the outcomes when possible.
The review concluded that weight bearing asymmetry was greater in people with amputations than those without amputations, and sit-to-stand performance time was longer for people with amputations than those without. Trunk motion differed in those with amputations, and lower-limb kinematics differed considerably, especially for people with transfemoral amputations.
The study, “Weight-bearing asymmetry during sit-to-stand after major lower-limb amputation: A systematic review and meta-analysis,” was published in Prosthetics and Orthotics International.
