Compensatory Posture Modeling in Lower Limb Amputees

Abstract

The human body maintains balance using somatosensory, visual, and vestibular inputs. Individuals with lower limb amputations experience balance deficits due to reduced feedback, leading to a reorganization of their balance control system. We applied controlled perturbations to transtibial (TTA) and transfemoral amputees (TFA), and able-bodied controls, while an inverted pendulum model was used to analyze balance control properties. TFA participants exhibited frequency-specific phase deficits without vision and markedly reduced proprioceptive weights despite preserved gain magnitudes, even during eyes-open conditions. These results suggest distinct postural control adaptations in amputees compared to controls.