gms | German Medical Science

Objective: This study determined the effect of preprosthetic training on standing balance and hop-skip ambulation of below and above knee amputees. It further determined the standing balance and hop-skip ambulation scores of amputees before and after the preprosthetic training, and significant difference on standing balance and hop-skip ambulation scores before and after the preprosthetic training.

Material/Methods: This study utilized a quasi-experimental design of research. Twenty-three amputees completed the training which consisted of range of motion exercises for about 10 repetitions; strengthening exercises for the upper extremities for about 10 repetitions; strengthening exercises for the lower extremities for about 10 repetitions; standing balance and coordination exercises as tolerated by the patient. The training was administered three times a week for eight weeks or about two months. Likert scale was used to score standing balance and hop-skip ambulation before and after two months of pre-prosthetic training. Paired t-test was used to determine the significant difference on standing balance and hop-skip ambulation scores before and after the preprosthetic training at 5% level of significance.

Results: There is an increase in the mean score on standing balance of below and above knee amputees after they have undergone pre-prosthetic training (Table 1[Tab. 1]). Strength training such as sitting push-ups and progressive resistive exercises produce substantial increases in the strength, mass, power and quality of skeletal muscle and this can increase endurance performance thereby improving the standing balance of below and above-knee amputees.

The mean score on the hop skip ambulation of amputees before and after pre-prosthetic training in Table 2 [Tab. 2] shows evidence that there is an increase in the score from 2.13 to 2.77 signifying that there is improvement on the mobility of the amputees.

The p value of .02 which is less than .05 means that the increase in the mean score of amputees before and after training is significant thus resulting to the rejection of null hypothesis (Table 3 [Tab. 3])

The data on the statistical analysis on the standing balance score of amputees before and after training in Table 4 [Tab. 4] shows a p value of .00018 which is very much less than .05 signifying that the increment on the standing balance score before and after the application of therapeutic maneuvers is significant.

Conclusion: The pre-prosthetic training is effective in improving the standing balance and hop-skip ambulation of below and above knee amputees.