The Effects of Different Prosthetic Foot and Ankle Stiffness Combinations on Transfemoral Prosthesis Users
Session Number
MEDH 07
Advisor(s)
Steven A. Gard, Northwestern University
Discipline
Medical and Health Sciences
Start Date
17-4-2024 10:45 AM
End Date
17-4-2024 11:00 AM
Abstract
Prosthetic foot stiffness is typically prescribed based on a person's weight and activity level, which may not be optimal for a particular patient. This study investigates how different prosthetic foot stiffness levels affect foot-ankle roll-over shape. The aim is to enhance gait function and prosthetic design for transfemoral prosthesis users. The study mechanically characterized the keel and bumper components on the College Park Venture Foot, which revealed an increasing stiffness from soft to hard configuration. Kinematic and kinetic data were utilized to create the roll-over shape (ROS) radii of the different combinations. A novel method was developed to create a best-fit circle of the roll-over shape and can be applied in future studies when a portion of the data is linear as the constraints mitigate the linear portion’s impact on the ROS radius calculation. Minimizing the standard deviation allows for a streamlined procedure while maintaining the outcome precision. All the different keel-bumper combinations in the roll-over shape experiment were proportional to their measured stiffness in the mechanical testing. As the optimal ROS parameters for ambulation and standing create a range of ROS radii, the clinician can alter the foot-ankle stiffness combination in the prescription to optimize the user’s gait.
The Effects of Different Prosthetic Foot and Ankle Stiffness Combinations on Transfemoral Prosthesis Users
Prosthetic foot stiffness is typically prescribed based on a person's weight and activity level, which may not be optimal for a particular patient. This study investigates how different prosthetic foot stiffness levels affect foot-ankle roll-over shape. The aim is to enhance gait function and prosthetic design for transfemoral prosthesis users. The study mechanically characterized the keel and bumper components on the College Park Venture Foot, which revealed an increasing stiffness from soft to hard configuration. Kinematic and kinetic data were utilized to create the roll-over shape (ROS) radii of the different combinations. A novel method was developed to create a best-fit circle of the roll-over shape and can be applied in future studies when a portion of the data is linear as the constraints mitigate the linear portion’s impact on the ROS radius calculation. Minimizing the standard deviation allows for a streamlined procedure while maintaining the outcome precision. All the different keel-bumper combinations in the roll-over shape experiment were proportional to their measured stiffness in the mechanical testing. As the optimal ROS parameters for ambulation and standing create a range of ROS radii, the clinician can alter the foot-ankle stiffness combination in the prescription to optimize the user’s gait.