Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2025
Engineering Platform and Experimental Protocol for Design and Evaluation of a Neurally-controlled Powered Transfemoral Prosthesis
Published on: July 22, 2014
Gait quality in prosthesis users is reflected by force-based metrics when learning to walk on a new research-grade
Kinsey R Herrin1,2, Samuel T Kwak3, Chase G Rock3
1Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States.
Introduction:
Powered prosthetic feet require customized tuning to ensure comfort and long-term success for the user, but tuning in both clinical and research settings is subjective, time intensive, and the standard for tuning can vary depending on the patient's and the prosthetist's experience levels.
Methods:
Therefore, we studied eight different metrics of gait quality associated with use of a research-grade powered prosthetic foot in seven individuals with transtibial amputation during treadmill walking. We compared clinically tuned and untuned conditions with the goal of identifying performance-based metrics capable of distinguishing between good (as determined by a clinician) from poor gait quality.
Results:
Differences between the tuned and untuned conditions were reflected in ankle power, both the vertical and anterior-posterior impulse symmetry indices, limb-force alignment, and positive ankle work, with improvements seen in all metrics during use of the tuned prosthesis.
Discussion:
Notably, all of these metrics relate to the timing of force generation during walking which is information not directly accessible to a prosthetist during a typical tuning process. This work indicates that relevant, real-time biomechanical data provided to the prosthetist through the future provision of wearable sensors may enhance and improve future clinical tuning procedures associated with powered prostheses as well as their long-term outcomes.
