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This study aimed at evaluating spatiotemporal parameters (STP) and symmetry index (SI), commonly used for evaluating amputee gait for routine clinical use, in individuals with unilateral transtibial amputations wearing energy storage and return (ESAR) feet with fixed ankles, prosthetic feet with adaptive ankles (PFAA) and prosthetic feet with microcontrolled adaptive ankles (PFAA-MC) in ramp ascent and descent. Thirteen individuals with transtibial amputations walked up and down a ramp. The STPs were measured in the amputated and intact legs and the relationship between them was quantified using the SI. The results showed that the use of PFAA-MC decreases walking speed in ramp descent (P < 0.018). However, this was the only parameter that showed a significant change. Hence, the differences in the amputees’ gait pattern when using the above-mentioned prostheses may not be reflected by STP and their SI.

This study measured spatio temporal parameters (STP) and their symmetry index (SI) in order to evaluate the differential effect on the gait pattern of individuals with unilateral transtibial amputations when using two different prostheses. Twelve individuals with transtibial amputations walked on level ground using an Energy Storage and Return (ESAR) prosthesis with fixed ankle and a prosthetic foot with adaptive ankle (PFAA). The STP were measured in the prosthetic and sound limbs and the symmetry index for each parameter was calculated afterwards. The results showed no statistically significant differences between the prostheses for the STP measured, and this was the case both for the prosthetic and sound limbs. Similarly, the SI did not reflect statistically significant differences when the different prostheses were used. Thus, the results suggest that the STP studied and their SI may not reflect differences when evaluating ESAR versus PFAA prostheses in the conditions proposed in this study.