Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 18, 2026
Engineering Platform and Experimental Protocol for Design and Evaluation of a Neurally-controlled Powered Transfemoral Prosthesis
Published on: July 22, 2014
Step-to-step transition work during level and inclined walking using passive and powered ankle-foot prostheses
Elizabeth Russell Esposito1, Jennifer M Aldridge Whitehead2, Jason M Wilken2
1Center for the Intrepid, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA erussell.kin@gmail.com.
Background:
Individuals with leg amputations who use passive prostheses have greater metabolic demands than non-amputees likely due to limited net positive work compared to a biological ankle. New powered ankle-foot prostheses can perform net positive mechanical work to aid push-off capabilities, which may reduce metabolic demands.
Objectives:
Compare step-to-step transition work and metabolic demand during level and inclined walking using passive and powered ankle-foot prostheses.
Study Design:
Repeated measures.
Methods:
Six individuals with transtibial amputation and six able-bodied controls walked at a standardized speed across level ground and up a 5° incline. Calculated measures included mechanical work during step-to-step transitions from the trailing prosthetic to leading intact limb, steady state metabolic rate, and ankle joint kinetics and kinematics.
Results:
The powered prosthesis generated 63% greater trailing limb step-to-step transition work than the passive during level walking only (p = 0.004). Metabolic rate was lower with the powered prosthesis during level (p = 0.006) but not inclined walking (p = 0.281). The powered prosthesis increased ankle power compared to the passive, to the extent that power was normalized to controls during inclined walking and greater than controls during level walking.
Conclusion:
The powered prosthesis improved ankle power, metabolic rate, and step-to-step transition work on level ground, with few negative consequences on inclines. These results may be used to guide the development and use of actively powered prosthetic devices in high-functioning individuals.
Clinical Relevance:
Overall, powered devices offer biomechanical and metabolic benefits over passive energy storage and return designs on level ground and perform as well as a passive model on inclines. The lower metabolic demand when using the powered device may delay fatigue for individuals with transtibial amputation when walking over level ground.
