مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - EFFECT OF THE USE OF LOFSTRAND CRUTCHES AND PROSTHESES ON SOME GAIT PARAMETERS IN AMPUTEE FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Abstract :

Lofstrand crutches are used in the pre-prosthetic period after amputations as well as in combination with prostheses in geriatric amputees. Amputee football is gaining popularity in countries with increasing numbers of terrorist incidents and traffic accidents. The majority of athletes playing amputee football, played with two Lofstrand crutches and without prostheses, use prostheses in their daily lives. In this study, athletes who use prostheses in their daily lives were asked to walk with their own prostheses and without, with the crutches they use while playing football, and the two gait patterns were compared with regards to some gait parameters (stride length, stride time, speed, distance and cadence). The study included five registered amputee football players with a unilateral lower extremity amputation (above-knee amputees, AKAs/knee disarticulation, KD). The subjects were asked to walk at a comfortable pace on a 25 meter track using prostheses and Lofstrand crutches. Data were collected through the F-Grip system (Tekscan Inc, Boston, USA) from their Loftstrand crutches and through the F-Scan Mobile system from their footwear (Tekscan Inc, Boston, USA). A comparison of the two gait patterns revealed that there is a difference in stride length, speed, distance and cadence though statistically insignificant (p=.068). However, the difference observed in the stride time was statistically significant (p=.043). As a result of their familiarity with Lofstrand crutches used in trainings and games and their sports skills, amputee footballers displayed a superior gait pattern with crutches compared to their prosthetic gait.