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Transtibial Amputee Joint Motion has Increased Attractor Divergence During Walking Compared to Non-Amputee Gait

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Abstract

The amputation and subsequent prosthetic rehabilitation of a lower leg affects gait. Dynamical systems theory would predict the use of a prosthetic device should alter the functional attractor dynamics to which the system self-organizes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the largest Lyapunov exponent (a nonlinear tool for assessing attractor dynamics) for amputee gait compared to healthy non-amputee individuals. Fourteen unilateral, transtibial amputees and fourteen healthy, non-amputee individuals ambulated on a treadmill at preferred, self-selected walking speed. Our results showed that the sound hip (p = 0.013), sound knee (p = 0.05), and prosthetic ankle (p = 0.023) have significantly greater largest Lyapunov exponents than healthy non-amputees. Furthermore, the prosthetic ankle has a significantly greater (p = 0.0.17) largest Lyapunov exponent than the sound leg ankle. These findings indicate attractor states for amputee gait with increased divergence. The increased attractor divergence seems to coincide with decreased ability for motor control between the natural rhythms of the individual and those of the prosthetic device. Future work should consider the impact of different prostheses and rehabilitation on the attractor dynamics.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by an American Society of Biomechanics Grant-in-Aid award, National Institute on Aging R01 Research Award, the Nebraska Research Initiative, a Widaman Fellowship, and The Ohio Willow Wood Company.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nebraska Biomechanics Core Facility, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, 68182-0216, USA

    Shane R. Wurdeman, Sara A. Myers & Nicholas Stergiou

  2. College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA

    Shane R. Wurdeman & Nicholas Stergiou

Authors
  1. Shane R. Wurdeman
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  2. Sara A. Myers
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  3. Nicholas Stergiou
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Correspondence to Nicholas Stergiou.

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Associate Editor Thurmon E. Lockhart oversaw the review of this article.

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Wurdeman, S.R., Myers, S.A. & Stergiou, N. Transtibial Amputee Joint Motion has Increased Attractor Divergence During Walking Compared to Non-Amputee Gait. Ann Biomed Eng 41, 806–813 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-012-0705-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-012-0705-2

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