Journal article
Muscle Function and Coordination of Amputee Stair Ascent
Journal of biomechanical engineering, Vol.140(12), 121004
12/01/2018
DOI: 10.1115/1.4040772
PMID: 30029262
Abstract
Ascending stairs is challenging following transtibial amputation due to the loss of the ankle muscles, which are critical to human movement. Efforts to improve stair ascent following amputation are hindered by the limited understanding of how the prosthesis and remaining muscles contribute to stair ascent. This study developed a three-dimensional (3D) muscle-actuated forward dynamics simulation of amputee stair ascent to identify the contributions of individual muscles and the passive prosthesis to the biomechanical subtasks of stair ascent. The prosthesis was found to provide vertical propulsion throughout stair ascent, similar to nonamputee plantarflexors. However, the timing differed considerably. The prosthesis also contributed to braking, similar to the nonamputee soleus, but to a greater extent. However, the prosthesis was unable to replicate the functions of nonamputee gastrocnemius, which contributes to forward propulsion during the second half of stance and leg swing initiation. To compensate, the hamstrings and vasti of the residual leg increased their contributions to forward propulsion during the first and second halves of stance, respectively. The prosthesis also contributed to medial control, consistent with the nonamputee soleus but not gastrocnemius. Therefore, prosthesis designs that provide additional vertical propulsion as well as forward propulsion, lateral control, and leg swing initiation at appropriate points in the gait cycle could improve amputee stair ascent. However, because nonamputee soleus and gastrocnemius contribute oppositely to many subtasks, it may be necessary to couple the prosthesis, which functions most similarly to soleus, with targeted rehabilitation programs focused on muscle groups that can compensate for gastrocnemius.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Muscle Function and Coordination of Amputee Stair Ascent
- Creators
- Nicole G. Harper - The University of Texas at AustinJason M. Wilken - University of IowaRichard R. Neptune - The University of Texas at Austin
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of biomechanical engineering, Vol.140(12), 121004
- Publisher
- Asme
- DOI
- 10.1115/1.4040772
- PMID
- 30029262
- ISSN
- 0148-0731
- eISSN
- 1528-8951
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- DGE-1110007 / National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship; National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for Rehabilitation Sciences Research
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/01/2018
- Academic Unit
- Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
- Record Identifier
- 9984295052102771
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