Biomechanical Evaluation of Adaptable Ankle-Foot Prostheses

描述(由申请人提供)： 该项目将研究15名单侧膝下假肢使用者，在5个坡面(-100度、-50度、0度、50度和10度)上使用6种不同的假肢。六个组件中的两个声称适用于步行表面斜坡。对于这些可适应系统中的每一个，还将测试两个类似的组件，以试图确定它们的适应方法对坡道行走的影响。每个参与者将以随机顺序使用所有成分，使研究成为随机交叉设计。测量将集中在残肢窝末端感受到的有效扭矩，它应该与窝内感受到的压力和控制剩余膝关节的肌肉所需的激活有关。还将测量脚踝和翻滚形状的扭矩与角度特性，以估计相对“刚度”、每一步的有效对准(设置点)以及模仿健全系统的能量需求。研究中还将从假肢使用者那里收集与在坡道上使用每个假肢相关的自我报告的努力和舒适度。还将收集年龄匹配的健全人的数据，以比较他们在不同坡道表面上的脚踝-脚生物力学与假肢脚踝-脚系统的生物力学。 公共卫生相关性： 项目简介这项研究直接适用于退伍军人医院患者护理任务，因为它将检查一个特征(适应性)，该特征被认为可以改善假肢使用者在倾斜和倾斜的表面上行走时的舒适性和减少工作量。假肢踝足系统的适应性可以让使用者参与更多的活动，提高他们的生活质量。从在坡道上行走的健全人那里收集的信息也将有助于未来适应性脚踝假肢的设计。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Project Summary This project will study fifteen unilateral below-knee prosthesis users using six different prosthetic feet on five ramp surfaces (-10o, -5o, 0o, 5o, and 10o). Two of the six components are claimed to be adaptable to walking surface slopes. For each of these adaptable systems, two similar components will also be tested in an attempt to determine the effects of their approaches to adaptation on ramp walking. Each participant will use all components in a random order, making the study a randomized cross-over design. Measurements will focus on the effective torque experienced at the end of the residual limb socket, which should relate to pressures felt within the socket and required activation of muscles controlling the remaining knee. The torque versus angle characteristic at the ankle and the roll- over shape will also be measured to estimate the relative "stiffness," the effective alignment (set-point) for each step, and the energy requirements of a system that would mimic the able-bodied system. Self-reported effort and comfort associated with the use of each prosthetic foot on the ramps will also be collected from prosthesis users in the study. Data will also be collected on age-matched able- bodied persons for comparison of their ankle-foot biomechanics on the various ramp surfaces with those of the prosthetic ankle-foot systems. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Project Narrative This study is directly applicable to the VA Patient Care Mission because it will examine a feature (adaptability) that is thought to improve comfort and decrease effort of prosthesis users when walking on inclined and declined surfaces. Adaptability of a prosthetic ankle-foot system may allow users to participate in a larger number of activities, improving their quality of life. Information gathered from able-bodied persons walking on ramp surfaces will also assist in future designs of adaptable ankle-foot prostheses.