The effects of prosthetic foot design on physiologic measurements, self-selected walking velocity, and physical activity in people with transtibial amputation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the physiologic differences during multispeed treadmill walking and physical activity profiles for the Otto Bock C-Walk foot (C-Walk), Flex-Foot, and solid ankle cushion heel (SACH) foot in people with transtibial amputation.


METHODS
A repeated-measures design with 3 prostheses.


METHODS
Research laboratory.


METHODS
Eight men with unilateral transtibial amputation.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Physiologic responses (energy expenditure, gait efficiency, exercise intensity, rating of perceived exertion [RPE]) during multispeed treadmill walking (53.64, 67.05, 80.46, 93.87, 107.28 m/min) test were analyzed with 2-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). One-way ANOVA was employed to analyze foot-type differences for self-selected walking velocity (SSWV), and steps per day (daily activity). Analysis of covariance was used to analyze foot-type differences with SSWV as the covariable for the physiologic measurements.


RESULTS
The C-Walk had a trend of improved physiologic responses compared with the SACH; however, no foot-type differences were statistically significant. Compared with the C-Walk and SACH, the Flex-Foot showed no significant differences in energy expenditure and gait efficiency, but significantly lower percentage of age-predicted maximum heart rate and RPE values.


CONCLUSIONS
The energy storing-releasing feet appeared to have certain trends of improved gait performance compared with the SACH; however, not many objective foot-type differences were significantly noted. Further studies with a larger sample size are suggested.
Hsu
Miao-Ju
MJ
Institute and Faculty of Physical Therapy, National Yang Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan. mjhsu@ym.edu.tw
Nielsen
David H
DH
Lin-Chan
Suh-Jen
SJ
Shurr
Donald
D
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000379:methods / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome