The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) demonstrate a technique that can be used to directly estimate the inertial properties of a below-knee prosthesis, and (2) contrast the effects of the proposed technique and that of using intact limb inertial properties on joint kinetic estimates during walking in unilateral, transtibial amputees. An oscillation and reaction board system was validated ...

This study examined the longitudinal changes in generic health-related quality of life (QOL), prosthesis-related QOL, falls efficacy, and walking speed in men with lower-limb amputations up to 6 months following discharge from rehabilitation. Seven male unilateral transtibial amputees completed the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, the Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire,...

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether application of a rigid dressing (RD) to the residual limb soon after transtibial amputation reduces the time from amputation to the first prosthetic casting/fitting compared with the residual limb managed with a soft dressing (SD). DATA SOURCES Studies in humans were identified by a systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central Register of...

The aim of this study was to assess the functional outcome of a population of lower limb amputees supplied with prosthesis. The research was conducted from June to September of 2010 at the Center for Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, of the Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Croatia. The study included 50 adult subjects of both genders with a unilateral transtibial or transfemoral lower limb ...

INTRODUCTION The effect of altered gait on body mechanics presents a stress on patient's sacroiliac joints (SIJ). The gait of the patient is this case report is altered because of a transtibial amputation with prosthesis; he also has a foot drop orthotic. CLINICAL FEATURES A 40-year-old man had left sacroiliac pain. The pain began 3 days before visiting the clinic and has been constant since ...

This study investigated a low-cost and low-skill dependent pressure casting technique (PCAST) to fabricate and fit transtibial (TT) prosthetic sockets in a developing country. Thirteen adult volunteers (average age 47 yr) with unilateral TT amputation participated. After fitting, five participants were lost to follow-up (four rejected the prosthesis and one died). The eight remaining participan...

Prostheses are prescribed to restore the mobility of people with amputated lower limbs. Monitoring the prosthesis wearing times and physical activity of prosthesis users would provide invaluable information regarding rehabilitation progress and suitability of the prosthesis. The validation of a method to determine wearing times and physical activity state, as well as strides taken, of amputees ...

Unilateral lower limb prosthesis users display temporal, kinematic, and kinetic asymmetries between limbs while ascending and descending stairs. These asymmetries are due, in part, to the inability of current prosthetic devices to effectively mimic normal ankle function. The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive set of biomechanical data for able-bodied and unilateral transtibial...

This article describes the development of a prototype prosthetic ankle-foot system that passively adapts to surface slopes on each step of walking. Engineering analyses were performed to design the cam clutch and clutch engagement and disengagement mechanism. The prototype was tested by a veteran with a unilateral transtibial amputation. Kinematic and kinetic data were recorded while the subjec...