The postural sway of amputees was investigated quantitatively in fifty
patients with above-the-knee amputations and in twenty-nine patients with
below-the-knee amputations. The factors evaluated were: (1) the mean speed
of sway: (2) the range of movement in the sagittal and coronal planes; and
(3) the dependence on vision as indicated by the ratio of eyes-open to
eyes-closed values. The results demonstrated that in amputees there is an
increased dependence on vision for maintenance of the erect posture.
Postural sway in patients with below-the-knee amputations was found to be
significantly greater than that in those with above-the-knee amputations.
Postural sway increased with age; but the visual dependence for the control
of postural sway was independent of age.