Effect of feeling the phantom sensation during gait on spatiotemporal gait characteristics in individuals with transtibial amputation

Abstract

The phantom sensation is a feeling on an amputated limb. The features of the phantom sensation can be variable from person to person. It may accompany the person continuously, be present occasionally or disappear completely. This sensation may be accompanied by pain, in which case it is called phantom pain. Although the effects of phantom pain on many functions are widely known, the effects of phantom sensation on gait was not been adequately clarified yet (1). How does the presence of phantom sensation during gait affect gait characteristics? Three unilateral transtibial amputees and one healthy individual were included in the study. Three questions of the Prosthesis Evaluation questionnaire were asked to amputees to assess the frequency, severity, and degree of discomfort caused by the phantom sensation over the past four weeks. The amputees who had additional health issues and experienced phantom pain or other disturbing phantom sensations were excluded. The gait of individuals was evaluated with a sensor-based gait analysis system (RehaGait-Pro) at the neutral and %5 perturbated treadmill (ReaxRun-Pro). Gait parameters were analyzed and all variables were compared with Perry’s normal expected values (2). The change in gait characteristics of individuals to adapt to the perturbated ground was classified as decrease/increase by taking the gait characteristics on flat ground as a reference, and these changes were evaluated according to their similarity to a healthy individual. Individuals were as follows: Case 1 had phantom sensation during walking, Case 2; had phantom sensation only during resting, Case 3; had no phantom sensation, and Case 4 was a healthy individual. The individual who showed the most similarity with the healthy individual in adaptation to perturbation was the individual who felt phantom sensation during walking (Case 1). Case 1 followed a similar strategy for seven gait parameters. Case 2 gave similar adaptive responses with the healthy individual in 6 gait parameters. The individual without phantom sensation showed adaptive responses similar to the healthy individual in 3 different parameters (Table).Download : Download high-res image (164KB)Download : Download full-size image These results showed that phantom sensation may be a functional sensation and that maintaining the holistic body schema of an amputee may contribute to the nature of gait (1). It is recommended that further research be conducted in large groups. Acknowledgements: This research was funded by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Project number: S219S809).