Adaptive Foot in Lower-Limb Prostheses

The human foot consists of complex sets of joints. The adaptive nature of the human foot enables it to be stable on any uneven surface. It is important to have such adaptive capabilities in the artificial prosthesis to achieve most of the essential movements for lower-limb amputees. However, many existing lower-limb prostheses lack the adaptive nature. This paper reviews lower-limb adaptive foot prostheses. In order to understand the design concepts of adaptive foot prostheses, the biomechanics of human foot have been explained. Additionally, the requirements and design challenges are investigated and presented. In this review, adaptive foot prostheses are classified according to actuation method. Furthermore, merits and demerits of present-day adaptive foot prostheses are presented based on the hardware construction. The hardware configurations of recent adaptive foot prostheses are analyzed and compared. At the end, potential future developments are highlighted.

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Research and future developments in upper and lower limb prostheses

Current Orthopaedic Practice ◽

10.1097/bco.0b013e31827f5a82 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 149-152 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Paul J. Dougherty

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Future Developments ◽

Lower Limb Prostheses

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Loads in hip disarticulation prostheses during normal daily use

Prosthetics and Orthotics International ◽

10.3109/03093649809164485 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 199-215 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

M. Nietert ◽

N. Englisch ◽

P. Kreil ◽

G. Alba-lopez

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Real Life ◽

Test Methods ◽

Structural Testing ◽

Uneven Surface ◽

Hip Prostheses ◽

Draft Standard ◽

Everyday Situation ◽

Level 2 ◽

Lower Limb Prostheses

As a result of deficiency at birth, disease or trauma, there are people who have no limbs from the hip joint downwards. These people have no possibillity of locomotion without the use of other devices such as wheelchairs or hip disarticulation prostheses. As these prostheses are used by people of all ages, people who are different in their grade of physical activities and their weights, the prostheses are subject to different stresses related to these different circumstances. The European Level 2 Draft Standard prEN 12523: 1966 “External limb prostheses and external orthoses — requirements and test methods” contains strength requirements for lower limb prostheses. These requirements shall be verified, where appropriate, by the application of the International Standard ISO 10328 “Prosthetics — Structural testing of lower limb prostheses” and ISO/FDIS 15032 “Prosthetics: Structural testing of hip prostheses”. In order to allow the prostheses to be tested to the stresses that are experienced in real life, it is necessary to measure the stress that is induced in the prostheses while the patient is in an everyday situation, such as walking on level floor, walking on grass and/or walking on an uneven surface. This work is concerned with the acquisition of loads generated in hip units of hip disarticulation prostheses by amputees during various activities. More than 30 patients were tested in Germany, France, and Belgium. The measurements were carried out with financial support from the European Commission and coordinated by the secretariat of CEN TC 293.

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