Mediation of the mediolateral ground reaction force profile to maintain straight running among unilateral transfemoral amputees

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 13; no. 1; p. 7823
• Main Authors: Tang, Ying Wai, Murai, Akihiko, Hobara, Hiroaki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 15.05.2023; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 692/499; 692/700/565/491; Amputation; Amputees; Artificial Limbs; Biomechanical Phenomena; Biomechanics; Gait; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Hypotheses; Injuries; Leg; Limbs; Mediation; multidisciplinary; Population; Running; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Variables; Velocity
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34288-4

The mediolateral ground reaction force (M-L GRF) profile that realizes a symmetrical mediolateral ground reaction impulse (M-L GRI) between both limbs is essential for maintaining a straight movement path. We aimed to examine the M-L GRF production across different running speeds in unilateral transfemoral amputees (TFA) to identify strategies for maintaining straight running. The average medial and lateral GRF, contact time (t c ), M-L GRI, step width, and center of pressure angle (COPANG) were analyzed. Nine TFAs performed running trials at 100% speed on an instrumented treadmill. Trials were set at 30–80% speed with an increment of 10%. Seven steps from the unaffected and affected limbs were analyzed. Overall, the unaffected limbs exhibited a higher average medial GRF than the affected limbs. The M-L GRI were similar between both limbs at all speeds, implying that the participants were able to maintain a straight running path. The affected limb exhibited a longer t c and a lower M-L GRF profile than the unaffected limb. The results showed that unilateral TFAs adopted limb-specific strategies to maintain a straight running path, and that these limb-specific strategies were consistent across different running speeds.