People with transhumeral limb loss have an increased risk of falling, so a team of researchers investigated whole-body angular momentum as a measure of movement control to gain an understanding of how upper-body kinematics contribute to dynamic balance. They found that the participants had dysregulated whole-body angular momentum compared to the control group throughout the gait cycle.
Based on the findings, the researchers suggested that people should be encouraged to wear their transhumeral prosthesis while walking as it may reduce fall risk and fatigue.
Eight participants with transhumeral limb loss and eight able-bodied control participants completed three gait trials at self-selected speeds. The participants with transhumeral limb loss performed trials with and without their prosthesis. Coefficient of cancellation and whole-body angular momentum about all anatomical axes of rotation were calculated. The researchers compared the means and variance across the conditions over the gait cycle and the ranges were compared.
The findings indicated that the coefficient of cancellation was decreased between the upper and lower limbs in the transverse plane and between the upper limbs and trunk in the sagittal plane for both transhumeral walking conditions compared to the control group. Whole-body angular momentum was statistically different in the sagittal plane and decreased in the transverse plane when walking with the prosthesis compared to the control group. Walking without the prosthesis resulted in increased variability of whole-body angular momentum.
The study, “Transhumeral prosthesis use and disuse affects whole-body angular momentum,” was published in Clinical Biomechanics.
