The Effects of Prosthetic Foot Design on Physiologic Measurements, Self-Selected Walking Velocity, and Physical Activity in People With Transtibial Amputation
By Hsu, Miao-Ju, PhD, PT; Nielsen, David H., PhD, PT; Lin-Chan, Suh-Jen, PhD, PT; Shurr, Donald, MA, PT, CPO; Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vol. 87, No. 1, pp. 123-129Publication Date: January 2006
Study conducted to investigate the physiological differences during multispeed treadmill walking and physical activity profiles when using the Otto Bock C-Walk foot (C-Walk), the Flex-Foot, and a solid ankle cushion heel (SACH) foot among people with transtibial amputations. The C-Walk features carbon fiber-reinforced plastic spring elements and a control spring. The device is supposed to allow people with transtibial amputations to walk smoothly and comfortably at any walking speed. Eight men with unilateral transtibial amputations participated in the study, and were observed while using each prosthetic device. The C-Walk was found to yield improvements in physiological responses when compared with the SACH, though no foot-type differences were found to be statistically significant. When compared with the C-Walk and the SACH, the Flex-Foot showed no significant differences in energy expenditure and gait efficiency, but did yield significantly lower percentages of age-predicted maximum heart rate. Implications for future research are discussed.
Assistive Products Discussed: FLEX-FOOT MODULAR III
Published by: W.B. Saunders Company, a division of Elsevier Health Sciences (Website:http://us.elsevierhealth.com)
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Web Site: http://www.aapmr.org/ )
American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (Web Site: http://www.acrm.org )
