title: Stair ascent with an innovative microprocessor-controlled exoprosthetic knee joint.
abstract: Climbing stairs can pose a major challenge for above-knee amputees as a result of compromised motor performance and limitations to prosthetic design. A new, innovative microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee joint, the Genium, incorporates a function that allows an above-knee amputee to climb stairs step over step. To execute this function, a number of different sensors and complex switching algorithms were integrated into the prosthetic knee joint. The function is intuitive for the user. A biomechanical study was conducted to assess objective gait measurements and calculate joint kinematics and kinetics as subjects ascended stairs. Results demonstrated that climbing stairs step over step is more biomechanically efficient for an amputee using the Genium prosthetic knee than the previously possible conventional method where the extended prosthesis is trailed as the amputee executes one or two steps at a time. There is a natural amount of stress on the residual musculoskeletal system, and it has been shown that the healthy contralateral side supports the movements of the amputated side. The mechanical power that the healthy contralateral knee joint needs to generate during the extension phase is also reduced. Similarly, there is near normal loading of the hip joint on the amputated side.
authors.affiliation: Research Biomechanics, Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH, Göttingen, Germany. malte.bellmann@ottobock.com
authors.forename: Malte
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellmann
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schmalz
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ludwigs
authors.forename: Siegmar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blumentritt
mesh_terms: D000672:Amputation Stumps; D000674:Amputees / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014584:User-Computer Interface