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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
Engineering Platform and Experimental Protocol for Design and Evaluation of a Neurally-controlled Powered Transfemoral Prosthesis
Published on: July 22, 2014
Energy expenditure and activity of transfemoral amputees using mechanical and microprocessor-controlled prosthetic
Kenton R Kaufman1, James A Levine, Robert H Brey
1Motion Analysis Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Kaufman.kenton@mayo.edu
Objective:
To quantify the energy efficiency of locomotion and free-living physical activity energy expenditure of transfemoral amputees using a mechanical and microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee.
Design:
Repeated-measures design to evaluate comparative functional outcomes.
Setting:
Exercise physiology laboratory and community free-living environment.
Participants:
Subjects (N=15; 12 men, 3 women; age, 42+/-9 y; range, 26-57 y) with transfemoral amputation.
Intervention:
Research participants were long-term users of a mechanical prosthesis (20+/-10 y as an amputee; range, 3-36 y). They were fitted with a microprocessor-controlled knee prosthesis and allowed to acclimate (mean time, 18+/-8 wk) before being retested.
Main Outcome Measures:
Objective measurements of energy efficiency and total daily energy expenditure were obtained. The Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire was used to gather subjective feedback from the participants.
Results:
Subjects demonstrated significantly increased physical activity-related energy expenditure levels in the participant's free-living environment (P=.04) after wearing the microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee joint. There was no significant difference in the energy efficiency of walking (P=.34). When using the microprocessor-controlled knee, the subjects expressed increased satisfaction in their daily lives (P=.02).
Conclusions:
People ambulating with a microprocessor-controlled knee significantly increased their physical activity during daily life, outside the laboratory setting, and expressed an increased quality of life.
