ASYMMETRY OF POSTURE AND TRUNK MUSCULATUR E FOLLOWING UNILATERAL UPPER-LIMB AMPUTATION - A CLINICAL, ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC, POSTURE-ANALYTICAL AND PHOTOGRAMMETRIC STUDY

Unilateral upper limb amputation causes changes in statics of the spin e. As a result asymmetrical posture of the spine, muscular asymmetries follow. In this study a population of upper limb amputees (above and below elbow amputees) is examined by clinical, electromyographical ana lysis and gait analysis. Upper limb amputations cause in correlation t o weightloss a shift of the trunk to the side of the amputation, a sco liosis with a bowing to the side of the amputation, an elevation of th e shoulder on the amputation side and a torsion of the trunk. Muscular asymmetries result from loss of function (muscles of the arm, M. lati ssimus, M. trapezius) and by shifting of the center of gravity. In ord er to get the center of gravity over the legs? the amputee compensates the loss of weight by shifting the upper trunk to the side of the amp utation. As a result the shift of the segmental center of gravity at t he lumber hight to the side of the normal arm with muscular asymmetry in the erector trunci lumbalis results. As well we saw an overactivity of musculus glutaeus medius and resulting stress of the amputation si ded hip joint. There was a remarcable difference between above and bel ow elbow amputees caused by differences in weightless. Muscular and st atic asymmetries in amputees who lost their arm only a short period be fore could be reduced by compensating the weightloss.