Article

Some important walking functions are adversely affected or eliminated in
prosthesis users because of reduced or absent ankle motion. This retrospective
data analysis determined the effect of prosthetic ankle units on the
characteristics of the ankle-foot roll-over shape in persons with bilateral
transtibial amputations. Seventeen subjects were fitted with Endolite Multiflex
Ankles to provide ankle plantar-/dorsiflexion during the stance phase of gait.
Quantitative gait analyses were performed as subjects walked with (1) Seattle
Lightfoot II feet (baseline condition) and (2) the prosthetic ankle units added.
Roll-over shape radii and effective foot length ratio were calculated and
compared for the two prosthetic configurations. When subjects walked with the
ankle units, ankle motion increased (p < 0.001), peak ankle plantarflexion moment
during stance decreased slightly, and ankle-foot roll-over shape radii were
significantly decreased (p < 0.001) compared with the baseline condition. The
effective foot length ratio of the roll-over shape was found to increase with
walking speed (p < 0.001), but it was not significantly affected by the
prosthetic ankle units (p = 0.07). Prosthetists and manufacturers are encouraged
to consider the effect of combining prosthetic components on the overall
characteristics of the prosthesis and the functions they impart to the user.

Langue : ANGLAIS