Mechanisms to Attenuate Load in the Intact Limb of Transtibial Amputees When Performing a Unilateral Drop Landing

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mechanisms to Attenuate Load in the Intact Limb of Transtibial Amputees When Performing a Unilateral Drop Landing

AU - Moudy, Sarah C

AU - Tillin, Neale A

AU - Sibley, Amy R

AU - Strike, Siobhán

N1 - Amy Sibley is also an author but I cannot find her on the internal list (she is a PhD student). Her external affiliation is South Bank University

PY - 2019/11/27

Y1 - 2019/11/27

N2 - Individuals with unilateral transtibial amputations experience greater work demand and loading on the intact limb compared with the prosthetic limb, placing this limb at a greater risk of knee joint degenerative conditions. It is possible that increased loading on the intact side may occur due to strength deficits and joint absorption mechanics. This study investigated the intact limb mechanics utilized to attenuate load, independent of prosthetic limb contributions and requirements for forward progression, which could provide an indication of deficiencies in the intact limb. Amputee and healthy control participants completed 3 unilateral drop landings from a 30-cm drop height. Joint angles at touchdown; range of motion; coupling angles; peak powers; and negative work of the ankle, knee, and hip were extracted together with isometric quadriceps strength measures. No significant differences were found in the load or movement mechanics (P ≥ .31, g ≤ 0.42), despite deficits in isometric maximum (20%) and explosive (25%) strength (P ≤ .13, g ≥ 0.61) in the intact limb. These results demonstrate that, when the influence from the prosthetic limb and task demand are absent, and despite deficits in strength, the intact limb adopts joint mechanics similar to able-bodied controls to attenuate limb loading.© 2019, Human Kinetics, Inc. This is an author produced version of a paper published in JOURNAL OF APPLIED BIOMECHANICS uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self- archiving policy. The final published version (version of record) is available online at the link. Some minor differences between this version and the final published version may remain. We suggest you refer to the final published version should you wish to cite from it.

AB - Individuals with unilateral transtibial amputations experience greater work demand and loading on the intact limb compared with the prosthetic limb, placing this limb at a greater risk of knee joint degenerative conditions. It is possible that increased loading on the intact side may occur due to strength deficits and joint absorption mechanics. This study investigated the intact limb mechanics utilized to attenuate load, independent of prosthetic limb contributions and requirements for forward progression, which could provide an indication of deficiencies in the intact limb. Amputee and healthy control participants completed 3 unilateral drop landings from a 30-cm drop height. Joint angles at touchdown; range of motion; coupling angles; peak powers; and negative work of the ankle, knee, and hip were extracted together with isometric quadriceps strength measures. No significant differences were found in the load or movement mechanics (P ≥ .31, g ≤ 0.42), despite deficits in isometric maximum (20%) and explosive (25%) strength (P ≤ .13, g ≥ 0.61) in the intact limb. These results demonstrate that, when the influence from the prosthetic limb and task demand are absent, and despite deficits in strength, the intact limb adopts joint mechanics similar to able-bodied controls to attenuate limb loading.© 2019, Human Kinetics, Inc. This is an author produced version of a paper published in JOURNAL OF APPLIED BIOMECHANICS uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self- archiving policy. The final published version (version of record) is available online at the link. Some minor differences between this version and the final published version may remain. We suggest you refer to the final published version should you wish to cite from it.

U2 - 10.1123/jab.2019-0087

DO - 10.1123/jab.2019-0087

M3 - Article

C2 - 31775122

SN - 1065-8483

SP - 1

EP - 9

JO - JOURNAL OF APPLIED BIOMECHANICS

JF - JOURNAL OF APPLIED BIOMECHANICS

ER -