Biomechanical Comparison of Novel Adaptive Swing-Phase Control Mechanical Knee Prostheses with 3R60 and 3R15 in...

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Prosthetics Engineering
• Gait Analysis

Background:

• The knee joint is crucial for adapting to walking speed variations, ensuring stability during stance and fluidity during swing.
• Transfemoral amputees require prosthetic solutions that can effectively manage different walking speeds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare gait patterns of transfemoral amputees using a novel auto-adaptive mechanical prosthetic knee against conventional 3R60 and 3R15 knee prostheses.
• To evaluate the performance of a new prosthetic knee designed to automatically adjust to varying walking speeds.

Main Methods:

• Collected biomechanical gait data from six unilateral transfemoral amputees.
• Tested three prosthetic knees (novel auto-adaptive, 3R60, 3R15) across slow, normal, and fast walking speeds.
• Utilized the Vicon motion system for precise gait data acquisition over a 7-meter walkway.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in prosthetic knee angular velocity during swing were observed across speeds and prostheses (P=0.002).
• The novel prosthetic knee showed decreased flexion with increased speed (P<0.001) and lower hip power during early swing (P<0.00).
• No significant changes in intact leg ankle plantar flexion or vaulting were noted with the novel prosthesis compared to others (P=0.002, P<0.06).

Conclusions:

• The novel mechanical auto-adaptive knee prosthesis demonstrates superior performance compared to conventional designs.
• This auto-adaptive prosthesis offers significant advantages for unilateral transfemoral amputees navigating diverse walking speeds.