Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026
Oscillation and Reaction Board Techniques for Estimating Inertial Properties of a Below-knee Prosthesis
Published on: May 8, 2014
Design and development of a novel viscoelastic ankle-foot prosthesis based on the human ankle biomechanics
Zahra Safaeepour1, Ali Esteki2, Farhad Tabatabai Ghomshe3
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAU), Tehran, Iran safaee_zahra@yahoo.com.
Background And Aim:
In the present study, a new approach was applied to design and develop a viscoelastic ankle-foot prosthesis. The aim was to replicate the intact ankle moment-angle loop in the normal walking speed.
Technique:
The moment-angle loop of intact ankle was divided into four parts, and the appropriate models including two viscoelastic units of spring-damper mechanism were considered to replicate the passive ankle dynamics. The developed prototype was then tested on a healthy subject with the amputee gait simulator. The result showed that prosthetic ankle moment-angle loop was similar to that of intact ankle with the distinct four periods.
Discussion:
The findings suggest that the prototype successfully provided the human ankle passive dynamics. Therefore, the viscoelastic units could imitate the four periods of a normal gait.
Clinical Relevance:
The novel viscoelastic foot prosthesis could provide natural ankle dynamics in a gait cycle. Applying simple but biomechanical approach is suggested in conception of new designs for prosthetic ankle-foot mechanisms.
