Biomechanical features of level walking by transtibial amputees wearing prosthetic feet with and without adaptive ankles

This study aimed to evaluate the kinematics and kinetics of the lower limb in both the intact and amputated leg in individuals with transtibial amputations wearing Energy storage and return feet (ESRFs) with fixed ankles and Prosthetic feet with adaptive ankles (PFAAs) during level walking. Three individuals with transtibial amputations walked on level ground wearing their own ESRFs and PFAAs. Spatiotemporal parameters, kinematics, and kinetics of the lower-extremity joints were measured in the amputated and intact legs. There were differences in the kinematics of the joints in the amputated leg and of the ankle in the intact leg between ESRFs and PFAAs. Differences in joint moments, power, and stiffness in most joints in both legs and braking impulse were found between ESRFs and PFAAs. Thus, although it was a pilot study with three subjects, ankle angle control mechanisms (ESRFs: Fixed ankle vs. propriofoot: Mechanical motor vs. elan and echelon: Hydraulic actuator) might affect biomechanical features during level walking.