Effect of an 8-Weeks of Comprehensive Corrective Protocol on Postural control, low Back Pain, Gait Speed and Quality of Life on Unilateral Transtibial Amputees

Aims: Amputation makes a person susceptible to postural deviation and compensatory movements and causes reduced performance, biocompatibility, pain, and dissatisfaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of a comprehensive rehabilitation protocol on indicators of postural control, back pain, quality of life, and gait speed in adults with unilateral lower limb amputation. Methodology: This Quasi-experimental design study was carried out on 23 subjects with transtibial amputations at k2 level and above who could walk with the help of a prosthesis. The subjects were selected by purposive and convenience sampling and were assigned to training and control groups. The training group received proper posture, correcting daily life activities, and teaching the correct use of prosthesis and mirror therapy for 8 weeks. Whereas the control group followed their routine daily life activities. In this study, a dynamic computer posturography machine was used to evaluate the postural control indicators of the subjects. Low back pain was measured by a visual analog scale. The quality of life was evaluated using TAPES and CLASS questionnaires. In addition, the gait speed was checked by a 2-minute gait test. Findings: According to the findings, following eight weeks of the comprehensive corrective protocol had a significant effect on the indicators of postural control, low back pain, quality of life, and gait speed, respectively, in the training group (p≤0.05). Conclusion: Implementing a comprehensive program of correctional protocol aiming to correct muscle imbalances, developing endurance and functional and motor power, making the subject aware of physical conditions, and improving self-awareness of body alignment leads to improvement of balance and postural control indicators, quality of life and gait speed and reduction of low back pain intensity in unilateral lower limb amputees.