Asymmetries in Pelvis, Lumbar, and Thorax During Transfemoral Amputee Walking

After a transfemoral amputation (TFA), individuals’ movement patterns have numerous changes. TFA significantly induces asymmetry not only in the lower limbs but also in the upper body. The study aims to assess the extent and underlying causes of kinematic asymmetry in the pelvis, torso and spine during gait with a passive prosthesis after a TFA. In the experiments, a single participant with a passive transfemoral prosthesis walked on a treadmill at three different speeds (0.6, 0.8, and 1.2 m/s), while kinematic data were collected. The key outcomes analyzed the kinematics of the pelvis, shoulders, and spine in both the frontal and horizontal planes. Results indicate that all these segments exhibited asymmetry in both planes, with certain parameters being associated with walking speed. Specifically, the upper body asymmetry in TFA amputees was attributed to compensation by the torso and pelvis. This finding underscores the importance of incorporating pelvic and torso training in gait rehabilitation for TFA patients.