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ABSTRACT
The purpose of the study was to determine if the kinematics exhibited by skilled runners wearing a unilateral, transtibial prosthesis during the curve section of a 200-m sprint race were influenced by interaction of limb-type (prosthetic limb (PROS-L) vs. nonprosthetic limb (NONPROS-L)) and curve-side (inside and outside limb relative to the centre of the curve). Step kinematics, toe clearance and knee and hip flexion/extension, hip ab/adduction for one stride of each limb were generated from video of 13 males running the curve during an international 200 m transtibial-classified competition. Using planned comparisons (P < 0.05), limb-type and curve-side interactions showed shortest support time and lowest hip abduction displacement by outside-NONPROS-L; shortest step length and longest time to peak knee flexion by the inside-PROS-L. For limb-type, greater maximum knee flexion angle and lower hip extension angles and displacement during support and toe clearance of PROS-Ls occurred. For curve-side, higher hip abduction angles during non-support were displayed by inside-limbs. Therefore, practitioners should consider that, for curve running, these kinematics are affected mostly by PROS-L limitations, with no clear advantage of having the PROS-L on either side of the curve.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful for the cooperation of the International Paralympic Committee and technical expertise by Sallie Williams.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1 T-44 studies cited involved trained competitors who sprinted while wearing a running-specific prosthesis. Exceptions are noted: “R” indicates jogging or running (not sprinting) by inexperienced participants; “*” indicates that at least some participants were not using a running-specific prosthesis.
2 Outlier removed for one outside-PROS-L datum.