Automatic Prosthetic Foot Stiffness Modulation to Improve Balance

Individuals with lower limb amputations are at higher risk of falling compared to able-bodied and other clinical populations and are more likely to sustain life-altering injuries. The higher fall risk is primarily due to the loss of the muscles crossing the ankle, which are critical to maintaining balance control. Prosthetic devices are designed to provide appropriate stiffness for needed stability and support. While research has shown the optimal stiffness to maintain balance varies across ambulatory activities (e.g., straight walking versus turning), most clinically prescribed prosthetic devices are passive and only provide a fixed stiffness level. The one commercially available, powered prosthetic ankle-foot has not been shown to restore balance control. Thus, a prosthetic device that actively adjusts ankle stiffness across different ambulatory activities is critically needed to advance the field and improve balance control for those with lower-limb amputations. The goal of this clinical trial is to identify prosthesis stiffness that optimizes balance control in individuals with below knee amputations as they perform typical ambulatory activities of daily living. By matching the ankle stiffness to the task requirements, we believe we will significantly improve balance control and decrease fall risk for those with lower-limb amputations.

Each participant will be fit with a novel prosthesis that includes a low-profile prosthetic foot whose stiffness category will be determined by their body weight and activity level (standard clinical practice), a prosthetic foot whose stiffness category is two categories stiffer, and another whose stiffness is two categories less stiff. Participants will continue to use their existing prosthetic socket and suspension system, but their pylon length will be adjusted as needed. While wearing the different study prostheses in randomized order, nine ambulatory activities will be performed motion capture laboratory.

• Walking on level ground at self-selected speed.
• Walking on level ground at 15% slower than self-selected speed.
• Walking on level ground at 15% faster than self-selected speed.
• Walking up an 8% slope at self-selected speed.
• Walking down an 8% slope at self-selected speed.
• Walking on level ground at self-selected speed while carrying a 5 kg load in one hand on their prosthetic side.
• Walking on level but uneven terrain at self-selected speed.
• Walking a 2-meter diameter circle at self-selected speed with the prosthetic side on the inside of the circle.
• Walking a 2-meter diameter circle at self-selected speed with the prosthetic side on the outside of the circle.

Ambulatory activities 1 through 6 will be performed on an instrumented treadmill. The load to be carried in activity 6 will be configured as a grocery bag with handles. Activity 7 will be performed on a rocky terrain treadmill. Activities 8 and 9 will be performed overground across five force plates embedded in the laboratory floor while following the outline of a 2-meter diameter circle. Rest breaks during all activities will be provided as needed.

The data from these experiments will be used to calculate the peak-to-peak range of the frontal plane whole-body angular momentum (a measure of balance control). We hypothesize that an optimal user-specific stiffness profile exists that maximizes balance control (i.e., minimizes the peak-to-peak range of frontal plane whole-body angular momentum over the gait cycle) for each ambulatory activity.

Inclusion criteria

• Unilateral transtibial (below-knee) amputation
• Been fit with a prosthesis and used it for at least 6 months
• Wear the prosthesis for 4 or more hours on average per day
• Be at least one-year post-amputation
• Able to walk on a treadmill

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of disorder, pain, or injury other than amputation that interferes with gait
• Current skin irritation or injury on residual limb
• Use of an assistive device for walking (cane, walker, etc.)