Gait improvement in unilateral transfemoral amputees by a combined psychological and physiotherapeutic treatment

A conscious therapeutic approach was used combining methods in physiotherapy with psychological awareness to re-educate nine transfemoral amputees during 10 months in outdoor environments. All were rehabilitated trauma or tumour cases, mean age 33 years, and had worn their prostheses for more than 18 months. The method aimed at integrating the prosthesis in normal movements and increasing body awareness. Gait was measured with a three-dimensional motion analysis system. Self-selected comfortable and brisk gait speed increased from mean 0.95 m/s and 1.29 m/s before to 1.40 m/s and 1.65 m/s after treatment, respectively. The results remained at a 6-month follow-up. Before treatment three participants used walking-aids and all had problems with low-back pain. After treatment none needed walking-aids and almost all low-back pain had disappeared. Seven participants learnt to jog. Results indicate that this new approach may add skills, mostly on participation level, to lead a relatively normal life.