Jason T Maikos, Alison L Pruziner, Brad D Hendershot, David V Herlihy, John M Chomack, Michael J Hyre, Samuel L Phillips, Alexis N Sidiropoulos, Christopher L Dearth, Leif M Nelson
BACKGROUND: Powered ankle-foot prosthetic devices can generate net positive mechanical work during gait, which mimics the physiological ankle. However, gait deviations can persist in individuals with transfemoral limb loss because of habit or lack of rehabilitation. Prosthetic research efforts favor the design or evaluation of prosthetic componentry and rarely incorporate any type of rehabilitation, despite evidence suggesting that it is critical for minimizing gait imbalances. Given the accelerated rate of innovation in prosthetics, there is a fundamental knowledge gap concerning how individuals with transfemoral limb loss should learn to correctly use powered ankle-foot devices for maximum functional benefit...
January 26, 2024: JMIR Research Protocols