Loading...
Toe clearance when walking in people with unilateral transtibial amputation: Effects of passive hydraulic ankle
Johnson, Louise De Asha, Alan R. Munjal, R. Kulkarni, J.
Johnson, Louise
De Asha, Alan R.
Munjal, R.
Kulkarni, J.
Publication Date
2014
End of Embargo
Supervisor
Rights
© 2014 The Authors. Published Open Access by the Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, Department of Veterans Affairs. Reproduced in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy.
Peer-Reviewed
Yes
Open Access status
openAccess
Accepted for publication
Institution
Department
Awarded
Embargo end date
Additional title
Abstract
Most clinically available prosthetic feet have a rigid attachment or incorporate an “ankle” device allowing elastic articulation during stance, with the foot returning to a “neutral” position at toe-off. We investigated whether using a foot with a hydraulically controlled articulating ankle that allows the foot to be relatively dorsiflexed at toe-off and throughout swing would increase minimum toe clearance (MTC). Twenty-one people with unilateral transtibial amputation completed overground walking trials using their habitual prosthetic foot with rigid or elastic articulating attachment and a foot with a hydraulic ankle attachment (hyA-F). MTC and other kinematic variables were assessed across multiple trials. When using the hyA-F, mean MTC increased on both limbs (p= 0.03). On the prosthetic limb this was partly due to the device being in its fully dorsiflexed position at toe-off, which reduced the “toes down” foot angle throughout swing (p = 0.01). Walking speed also increased when using the hyA-F (p = 0.001) and was associated with greater swing-limb hip flexion on the prosthetic side (p = 0.04), which may have contributed to the increase in mean MTC. Variability in MTC increased on the prosthetic side when using the hyA-F (p = 0.03), but this did not increase risk of tripping.
Version
Published version
Citation
Johnson L, De Asha AR, Munjal R et al (2014) Toe clearance when walking in people with unilateral transtibial amputation: Effects of passive hydraulic ankle. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development. 51(3): 429-438.
Link to publisher’s version
Link to published version
Link to Version of Record
Type
Article