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Sakata H, Hashizume S, Amma R, Hisano G, Murata H, Takemura H, Usui F, Hobara H. Anterior-posterior ground reaction forces across a range of running speeds in unilateral transfemoral amputees. Sports Biomech 2024; 23:69-80. [PMID: 33112726 DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2020.1822434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
As a fundamental motor pattern, the ability to run at a range of constant speeds is a prerequisite for participating in competitive games and recreational sports. However, it remains unclear how unilateral transfemoral amputees modulate anterior and posterior ground reaction force impulses (GRFIs) in order to maintain constant running speeds. The purpose of this study was to investigate anterior and posterior GRFIs across a wide range of constant running speeds in unilateral transfemoral amputees wearing a running-specific prosthesis. Eleven runners with unilateral transfemoral amputation ran on an instrumented treadmill at 5 different speeds (30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, and 70% of the average velocity of their 100-m personal records). Anterior-posterior ground reaction forces (GRFs) were measured at 1000 Hz over 14 consecutive steps. Impulse, magnitude, and duration of anterior and posterior GRFs were compared between the affected and unaffected limbs at each speed. The net anterior-posterior GRFI, reflecting the changes in horizontal running velocity, was consistently positive (propulsion) in the affected limb and negative (braking) in the unaffected limb at all speeds. Regardless of running speed, unilateral transfemoral amputees maintain constant running speeds not over each step, but over 2 consecutive steps (i.e., one stride).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Sakata
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoru Hashizume
- Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga, Japan
| | - Ryo Amma
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Genki Hisano
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Systems and Control Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroto Murata
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Takemura
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumio Usui
- Prosthetics and Orthotics Support Center, Tetsudou Kousaikai Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Hobara
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
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Hu M, Kobayashi T, Hisano G, Murata H, Ichimura D, Hobara H. Sprinting performance of individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation: compensation strategies for lower limb coordination. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:221198. [PMID: 36908994 PMCID: PMC9993038 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the sprinting patterns of individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation (uTFA) is important for designing improved running-specific prostheses and for prosthetic gait rehabilitation. Continuous relative phase (CRP) analysis acquires clues from movement kinematics and obtains insights into the sprinting coordination of individuals with uTFA. Seven individuals with uTFA sprinted on a 40 m runway. The spatio-temporal parameters, joint and segment angles of the lower limbs were obtained, and CRP analysis was performed on thigh-shank and shank-foot couplings. Subsequently, the asymmetry ratios of the parameters were calculated. Statistical analyses were performed between the lower limbs. Significant differences in the stance time, stance phase percentage, ankle joint angles and CRP of the shank-foot coupling (p < 0.05) were observed between the lower limbs. The primary contributor to these differences could be the structural differences between the lower limbs. Despite the presence of different coordination features in the stance and swing phases between the lower limbs, no significant difference in the coordination patterns of the thigh-shank coupling was observed. This may be a compensation strategy for achieving coordination patterns with improved symmetry between the lower limbs. The results of this study provide novel insights into the sprinting movement patterns of individuals with uTFA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyu Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Toshiki Kobayashi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Genki Hisano
- Department of Systems and Control Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
- Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Tokyo 102-0083, Japan
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo 135-0014, Japan
| | - Hiroto Murata
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ichimura
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo 135-0014, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Hobara
- Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
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Development and Evaluation of a Passive Mechanism for a Transfemoral Prosthetic Knee That Prevents Falls during Running Stance. PROSTHESIS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/prosthesis4020018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Existing prosthetic knees used by transfemoral amputees have function almost akin to non-friction hinge joints during the running stance phase. Therefore, transfemoral amputees who wish to run need sufficient strength in their hip extension muscles and appropriate prosthetic leg swing motion to avoid falling due to unintended prosthetic knee flexion. This requires much training and practice. The present study aimed to develop a passive mechanism for a transfemoral prosthetic knee to prevent unintended prosthetic knee flexion during the running stance phase. The proposed mechanism restricts only flexion during the prosthetic stance phase with a load on the prosthetic knee regardless of the joint angle of the prosthetic knee. The load on the prosthetic knee required to maintain locked flexion was analyzed. We developed a rough prototype and conducted an evaluation experiment with an intact participant attached to a simulated prosthetic limb and the prototype. The results of level walking showed that the proposed mechanism limits knee flexion, as designed. The results of the preliminary trial suggest that the proposed mechanism functions appropriately during running, where the load on the prosthetic knee is larger than that during walking.
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Murata H, Hisano G, Ichimura D, Takemura H, Hobara H. External Mechanical Work in Runners With Unilateral Transfemoral Amputation. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 9:793651. [PMID: 35024365 PMCID: PMC8743270 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.793651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbon-fiber running-specific prostheses have enabled individuals with lower extremity amputation to run by providing a spring-like leg function in their affected limb. When individuals without amputation run at a constant speed on level ground, the net external mechanical work is zero at each step to maintain a symmetrical bouncing gait. Although the spring-like “bouncing step” using running-specific prostheses is considered a prerequisite for running, little is known about the underlying mechanisms for unilateral transfemoral amputees. The aim of this study was to investigate external mechanical work at different running speeds for unilateral transfemoral amputees wearing running-specific prostheses. Eight unilateral transfemoral amputees ran on a force-instrumented treadmill at a range of speeds (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80% of the average speed of their 100-m personal records). We calculated the mechanical energy of the body center of mass (COM) by conducting a time-integration of the ground reaction forces in the sagittal plane. Then, the net external mechanical work was calculated as the difference between the mechanical energy at the initial and end of the stance phase. We found that the net external work in the affected limb tended to be greater than that in the unaffected limb across the six running speeds. Moreover, the net external work of the affected limb was found to be positive, while that of the unaffected limb was negative across the range of speeds. These results suggest that the COM of unilateral transfemoral amputees would be accelerated in the affected limb’s step and decelerated in the unaffected limb’s step at each bouncing step across different constant speeds. Therefore, unilateral transfemoral amputees with passive prostheses maintain their bouncing steps using a limb-specific strategy during running.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroto Murata
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan.,Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Genki Hisano
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Systems and Control Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan.,Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ichimura
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Takemura
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Hobara
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
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