Muscle Function and Coordination of Amputee Stair Ascent

Harper, Nicole G.; Wilken, Jason M.; Neptune, Richard R.

doi:10.1115/1.4040772

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…However, this may not hold for stair ascent to level walking, where there is unique dorsiflexion seen in early stance. It has been suggested that appropriately-timed dorsiflexion of a device during stair ascent could help with vertical and forward propulsion of the leg as seen in able-bodied studies 36 , 39 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

There are unique kinematics during locomotor transitions between level ground and stair ambulation that persist with increasing stair grade

Neuman

Fey

2023

Sci Rep

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Human ambulation is typically characterized during steady-state isolated tasks (e.g., walking, running, stair ambulation). However, general human locomotion comprises continuous adaptation to the varied terrains encountered during activities of daily life. To fill an important gap in knowledge that may lead to improved therapeutic and device interventions for mobility-impaired individuals, it is vital to identify how the mechanics of individuals change as they transition between different ambulatory tasks, and as they encounter terrains of differing severity. In this work, we study lower-limb joint kinematics during the transitions between level walking and stair ascent and descent over a range of stair inclination angles. Using statistical parametric mapping, we identify where and when the kinematics of transitions are unique from the adjacent steady-state tasks. Results show unique transition kinematics primarily in the swing phase, which are sensitive to stair inclination. We also train Gaussian process regression models for each joint to predict joint angles given the gait phase, stair inclination, and ambulation context (transition type, ascent/descent), demonstrating a mathematical modeling approach that successfully incorporates terrain transitions and severity. The results of this work further our understanding of transitory human biomechanics and motivate the incorporation of transition-specific control models into mobility-assistive technology.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

There are unique kinematics during locomotor transitions between level ground and stair ambulation that persist with increasing stair grade

Neuman

Fey

2023

Sci Rep

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“…29 Moreover, when ascending stairs, the plantar flexion muscles of the intact limb are the primary contributors to vertical propulsion in the intact limb during the second half of stance phase. 30 Considering this, the gastrocnemius muscles in the intact limb are repeatedly recruited during walking on level ground and ascending stairs to a greater extent in unilateral LLA, placing these muscles at risk for overuse through physical activities of daily living.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tensiomyographic changes of muscle contractile properties in individuals with lower-limb amputation: A pilot study

Fujishita¹,

Maeda²,

Urabe³

et al. 2021

Prosthetics &Amp; Orthotics International

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Background: Individuals with a unilateral lower-limb amputation (LLA) rely heavily on their intact limb during daily physical activities. However, there is limited research on the resultant effects of this over-reliance on contractile properties of muscles in the intact limb. Objective: To compare the muscle contractile properties of the intact limb among individuals with a unilateral LLA to those of agematched able-bodied individuals, using tensiomyography.Study Design: This is a cross-sectional, observational study. Methods: Nine men with a unilateral LLA and 10 able-bodied men (control) were included. Tensiomyography measures were obtained for 5 muscles: gastrocnemius lateralis (GL) and medialis (GM), rectus femoris, vastus lateralis (VL), and vastus medialis. Contraction time (Tc), delay time (Td), maximal displacement (Dm), and velocity of deformation (Vd) for each muscle were compared between groups.Results: Tc and Td for the GL and GM muscles were lower for the LLA than the control group (GL: P 5 .03, r 5 20.51, P , .01, r 5 0.67; GM: P 5 .02, r 5 0.53, P 5 .07, r 5 0.54, respectively). Dm and Vd of the VL were significantly smaller in the LLA than the control group (P , .01, r 5 0.73, P , .01, r 5 0.23, respectively). Conclusions: Men with a unilateral LLA seem to have slower deformation of the gastrocnemius muscles and higher stiffness of the VL than able-bodied controls. These findings may be indicative of an overuse of the intact limb as a compensation for the unilateral LLA. The confirmation of these findings in a larger sample size is required to translate these findings to practice.

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“…We further analyzed the contributions of a passive prosthesis and individual muscles to balance control during amputee and nonamputee stair ascent [83] and found that the passive prosthesis replicated the role of nonamputee plantarflexors in the sagittal plane but caused a larger change in angular momentum in the transverse plane. In the frontal plane, nonamputee plantarflexors contributed minimally, while the prosthesis was a critical contributor to angular momentum that acted to rotate the body toward the contralateral leg.…”

Section: Balance Control In Lower-limb Amputeesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic Balance During Human Movement: Measurement and Control Mechanisms

Neptune

Vistamehr

2019

Journal of Biomechanical Engineering

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Walking can be exceedingly complex to analyze due to highly nonlinear multibody dynamics, nonlinear relationships between muscle excitations and resulting muscle forces, dynamic coupling that allows muscles to accelerate joints and segments they do not span, and redundant muscle control. Walking requires the successful execution of a number of biomechanical functions such as providing body support, forward propulsion, and balance control, with specific muscle groups contributing to their execution. Thus, muscle injury or neurological impairment that affects muscle output can alter the successful execution of these functions and impair walking performance. The loss of balance control in particular can result in falls and subsequent injuries that lead to the loss of mobility and functional independence. Thus, it is important to assess the mechanisms used to control balance in clinical populations using reliable methods with the ultimate goal of improving rehabilitation outcomes. In this review, we highlight common clinical and laboratory-based measures used to assess balance control and their potential limitations, show how these measures have been used to analyze balance in several clinical populations, and consider the translation of specific laboratory-based measures from the research laboratory to the clinic.

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Muscle Function and Coordination of Amputee Stair Ascent

Cited by 7 publications

References 45 publications

There are unique kinematics during locomotor transitions between level ground and stair ambulation that persist with increasing stair grade

There are unique kinematics during locomotor transitions between level ground and stair ambulation that persist with increasing stair grade

Tensiomyographic changes of muscle contractile properties in individuals with lower-limb amputation: A pilot study

Dynamic Balance During Human Movement: Measurement and Control Mechanisms

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