Effects of a Prosthetic Foot With Increased Coronal Adaptability on Cross-Slope Walking

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics of human locomotion
• Prosthetic limb technology
• Rehabilitation engineering

Background:

• Walking on cross-slopes presents challenges for individuals with lower limb amputations due to uneven terrain.
• Functional leg length discrepancies on slopes necessitate adaptability in both the user and their prosthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel prosthetic foot designed for enhanced adaptability on cross-slopes.
• To compare the performance of this new foot against two common prosthetic feet using objective gait analysis and subjective patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A randomized cross-over study involving twelve unilateral transtibial amputees and ten able-bodied controls.
• Participants walked on level ground and ±10° cross-slopes, with three prosthetic foot conditions: Triton Side Flex (TSF), Triton LP, and Pro-Flex LP.
• Key outcome measures included frontal plane adaptation, center of pressure, ground reaction forces, knee adduction moment, and patient-reported outcomes (ABC Scale, PLUS M, ADL-Q).

Main Results:

• The TSF prosthetic foot demonstrated faster and greater adaptation to cross-slope conditions compared to Triton LP and Pro-Flex LP.
• Gait analysis revealed distinct patterns for cross-slopes versus level ground, mirroring control subjects.
• Patients reported improved safety and comfort with the TSF on cross-slopes, with a majority preferring it.

Conclusions:

• The TSF prosthetic foot's frontal plane adaptation capabilities appear to enhance user locomotion on uneven terrain, particularly cross-slopes.
• This novel prosthetic design may offer significant benefits for amputees navigating challenging environments.