title: An experimental study of the interface pressure profile during level walking of a new suspension system for lower limb amputees.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Different suspension systems that are used within prosthetic devices may alter the distribution of pressure inside the prosthetic socket in lower limb amputees. This study aimed to compare the interface pressure of a new magnetic suspension system with the pin/lock and Seal-In suspension systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve unilateral transtibial amputees participated in the study. The subjects walked on a level walkway at a self-selected speed. The resultant peak pressure with the three different suspension systems was recorded using F-socket transducers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant statistical differences between the three studied suspension systems. Pair-wise analyses revealed that the mean peak pressure (kPa) was lower with the magnetic system than it was with the pin/lock system over the anterior and posterior aspects during one gait cycle (89.89 vs. 79.26 and 47.22 vs. 26.01, respectively). Overall, the average peak pressure values were higher with the Seal-In system than they were with the new magnetic lock and pin/lock system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new magnetic system might reduce the pressure within the prosthetic socket in comparison to the pin/lock and Seal-In system during one gait cycle. This is particularly important during the swing phase of gait and may reduce the pain and discomfort at the distal residual limb in comparison to the pin/lock system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. arezoo@um.edu.my
authors.forename: Arezoo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eshraghi
authors.forename: Noor Azuan
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Abu Osman
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gholizadeh
authors.forename: Sadeeq
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Stefán Karl
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sævarsson
authors.forename: Wan Abu Bakar
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Wan Abas
mesh_terms: D000672:Amputation Stumps; D000674:Amputees / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D002138:Calibration; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016138:Walking