Measuring the daily stepping activity of people with trans-tibial amputation using the ActivPAL activity monitor

This study compared the general activity over one week and detailed activity during a 24-hour period, of 48 established unilateral transtibial prostheses users. Activity was measured by instrumenting their prescribed prosthesis, which they have been using for a minimum of 6 month, with the ActivPAL™ activity monitor. Half (n=24) were fitted with a prostheses with total surface bearing (TSB) pressure-cast sockets (Hands-off) and the other half (n=24) had been wearing prostheses with hand-cast (Hands-on) patella tendon bearing (PTB) sockets. As a prerequisite, the long-term reliability of the ActivPAL™ activity monitor was assessed and it was found to exhibit a high level of consistency between devices (Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) of 0.997 over a 24-hour period). The monitors were utilized to examine the activity levels of two groups of transtibial prostheses users wearing their own prosthesis. Results indicated that both subject groups were active throughout the day, walking on average over 8,000 steps. No statistically significant difference in daily stepping activity was seen between the two groups (p=0.173). Despite differences in prosthetic socket design the daily activity profiles of both subject groups were similar.