Trans-Tibial Amputee Gait Correction through Real-Time Visual Feedback

The present paper reports on program of work undertaken to evaluate the effect of real time visual feedback on kinematics of prosthetic gait.
A total of 6 below-knee male amputees were included in the study. Each individual underwent three trials of self-selected speed treadmill walking, in which real time visual feedback was provided from forward, backward, and lateral views, together with a control trial without any visual feedback. Kinematic reference values were captured via VICON motion analysis system, and one-minute slots of data sets were processed by its Workstation software (Plug in Gait), which were than statistically analyzed running Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test.
Statistical analyses revealed significant differences in stance phase (Z=0.923, p=0.031) and stride length (Z=-1.807, p=0.043) between normal and affected sides in front visual feedback mode. Stance phase was generally extended on normal legs, and there appeared to be reductions in hip joint range of motion on affected limbs. Stride time followed relatively comparable patterns in both sides across all trials.
The results suggest that providing visualization in the context of amputee gait rehabilitation may provide an effective way to help subjects correct gait patterns and thereby it may improve the outcome of rehabilitation.