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Published on: May 8, 2014
Gait and balance of transfemoral amputees using passive mechanical and microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knees
K R Kaufman1, J A Levine, R H Brey
1Motion Analysis Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Kaufman.kenton@mayo.edu
Background:
Microprocessor-controlled knee joints appeared on the market a decade ago. These joints are more sophisticated and more expensive than mechanical ones. The literature is contradictory regarding changes in gait and balance when using these sophisticated devices.
Methods:
This study employed a crossover design to assess the comparative performance of a passive mechanical knee prosthesis compared to a microprocessor-controlled knee joint in 15 subjects with an above-knee amputation. Objective measurements of gait and balance were obtained.
Results:
Subjects demonstrated significantly improved gait characteristics after receiving the microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee joint (p<0.01). Improvements in gait were a transition from a hyperextended knee to a flexed knee during loading response which resulted in a change from an internal knee flexor moment to a knee extensor moment. The participants' balance also improved (p<0.01). All conditions of the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) demonstrated improvements in equilibrium score. The composite score also increased.
Conclusions:
Transfemoral amputees using a microprocessor-controlled knee have significant improvements in gait and balance.
