Spatiotemporal gait alterations in lower limb amputees during the pre-prosthetic phase: performance indicators and age-related differences.

BACKGROUND

Ambulation ability is among the most significantly compromised functions following lower-limb amputation, considerably impacting autonomy and quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the spatiotemporal gait alterations between adults and older adults with lower-limb amputation in the pre-prosthetic phase and to identify the indicators of gait performance.

METHODS

This observational, analytical, cross-sectional study enrolled 24 participants (13 adults aged 20-50 years and 11 older adults aged ≥60 years). Data collection included a demographic and clinical questionnaire, the Amputee Mobility Predictor without prosthesis (AMPnoPRO), the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and gait analysis using an Inertial Measurement Unit with an accelerometer and gyroscope. Descriptive statistics were performed. Group comparisons were conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. The Spearman correlation coefficient (p ≤ .05) was used to examine associations between gait parameters, age, anthropometric variables, and functional outcomes.

RESULTS

Age, duration of physical therapy, and functional test performance (FIM, AMPnoPRO, TUG) were significantly associated with spatiotemporal gait parameters. Older adults demonstrated significantly lower cadence (-23.2 steps/min; p = .013) and longer step duration (+0.68 s; p = .022) compared to younger adults (20-59 years).

CONCLUSION

Age, duration of physical therapy, and performance on functional tests may serve as reliable indicators of gait performance, contributing to individualized rehabilitation strategies.