Criteria for Advanced Prosthetic Foot Prescription: Rationale, Design, and Protocol for a Multisite, Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Biomechanics
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Prosthetic ankle-foot device prescription often relies on clinical judgment or limited evidence.
• Current research prioritizes device design over optimal prescription parameters.
• This study addresses the need for evidence-based guidelines in prosthetic prescription.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop evidence-based guidelines for prescribing prosthetic ankle-foot devices.
• To improve functional outcomes and patient satisfaction for individuals with limb loss.
• To establish optimal prescription parameters for commercially available prosthetic devices.

Main Methods:

• Multisite, randomized, crossover clinical trial with 100 participants.
• Participants evaluated three prosthetic types: energy storing and returning, articulating, and powered.
• Biomechanical gait analysis, functional measures, subjective surveys, and user preference interviews were employed.

Main Results:

• Data collection is ongoing, with completion expected before July 2023.
• Initial results are anticipated for dissemination in winter 2023.
• The study will provide comprehensive data on prosthetic device performance.

Conclusions:

• Identifying sensitive outcome measures will establish a benchmark for effective prosthetic prescription.
• Evidence-based guidelines will enhance clinical decision-making for limb loss care teams.
• This research aims to optimize prosthetic device selection for improved user outcomes.