Whole-body angular momentum during walking on stairs using passive and powered lower-limb prostheses

Abstract

Stair walking is a biomechanically challenging task, particularly for impaired populations such as individuals with unilateral transtibial amputation (TTA). In addition, TTA have an increased fall risk relative to able-bodied individuals (AB). The regulation of whole-body angular momentum (H) is important for maintaining balance and avoiding a fall. This study therefore evaluated H during stair ascent and descent in TTA using passive and powered prostheses compared to AB. The range of H was generally reduced in TTA and AB during descent relative to ascent, which may be a mechanism to reduce fall risk during descent. TTA using both types of prostheses had an increased range of sagittal H during prosthetic limb stance compared to AB during ascent, but no differences in H were observed between prostheses. Thus, TTA have altered H relative to AB during stair ascent, and H is not significantly affected by the use of a powered prosthesis.