Body sway in below-knee amputees.

The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that below-knee amputees have less standing stability than normal persons. Twenty below-knee amputees were tested with the quantified Romberg test. All amputees below 59 years and all women above 59 years had a decreased sway compared with matched control groups of normal persons. Amputated men above 59 years did not show any difference in sway compared with the matched control group. Presuming that small sway excursions can be interpreted as a stable standing position, the study shows that a well fitted PTB-amputee stands at least as safely as a normal person.