Assessing Sensory Feedback Disruption during Balance Control after a Lower Limb Amputation

• Applicants: Dr. Cristian Pasluosta; Professor Dr.-Ing. Thomas Stieglitz
• Subject Area: Biomedical Systems Technology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 505063807

Proprioceptive and cutaneous sensations are required to maintain balance and stable gait. Following a lower limb amputation, patients develop neuromuscular adaptations to compensate for the disrupted sensory feedback, the loss of mechanical degrees of freedom and several psychophysical alterations. These compensatory adaptations are reflected in altered motor outputs such as center of pressure (CoP) adjustments during upright standing. The dynamics of the CoP adjustments over time are the result of several control strategies of the central and peripheral nervous system in concert with the neuromuscular system. Thus, we hypothesize that studying how the dynamics of CoP adjustments relate to intermuscular coupling in the lower body of unilateral amputees will provide information regarding the control strategies that amputees utilize to compensate for the disrupted sensory feedback. This research proposal will investigate this relationship in conjunction with models of postural control during upright standing. This tool will help to elucidate how different sensory inputs are integrated after an amputation and how this is translated into different patterns of muscular co-activation to ultimately stabilize upright posture. We will use this knowledge to design effective paradigms of electrical stimulation aimed at restoring sensory feedback in amputees via transcutaneous nerve stimulation. Results of this research will advance the development of stimulation devices that are patient-specific and effective to restore balance control in unilateral amputees.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Christoph Maurer