A comparative evaluation of oxygen consumption and gait pattern in amputees using Intelligent Prostheses and conventionally damped knee swing-phase control.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the gait of amputees wearing conventionally damped pneumatic swing-phase control knees and microchip-controlled Intelligent Prostheses.


METHODS
Crossover trial.


METHODS
An amputee rehabilitation centre in a teaching hospital.


METHODS
Ten established unilateral transfemoral prosthetic users were asked to participate in the trial; all agreed.


METHODS
The amputees were assessed wearing pneumatic swing-phase control knees and then with the Intelligent Prosthesis.


METHODS
Oxygen consumption while walking at different speeds on a treadmill, video-recording of gait assessed by a panel and temporal-spatial parameters of gait whilst walking at slow, fast or normal speeds in a gait laboratory.


RESULTS
Mean oxygen cost for all subjects at 0.69 m/s was 0.33 ml/kg.m with the conventional limb and 0.30 ml/kg.m with the Intelligent Prosthesis (p = 0.01). At 1.25 m/s the mean oxygen cost for the conventional limb was 0.24 ml/kg.m and for the Intelligent Prosthesis was 0.22 ml/kg.m (not significant). The ANOVA analysis showed that oxygen cost was similar at normal walking speeds but increased more at lower speeds for the pneumatic swing-phase control leg compared to the Intelligent Prosthesis (p < 0.02). There were no significant differences in subjective gait evaluation or temporal and spatial gait parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
At lower speeds oxygen cost was lower with the Intelligent Prosthesis. Gait analysis detected no significant changes between the two legs.
Datta
Dipak
D
Mobility and Specialised Rehabilitation Centre, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK. dipak.datta@sth.nhs.uk
Heller
Ben
B
Howitt
John
J
D000328:Adult; D000674:Amputees / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008838:Microcomputers; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D014741:Video Recording