title: Influence of a user-adaptive prosthetic knee on quality of life, balance confidence, and measures of mobility: a randomised cross-over trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the influence of a transition from a non-microprocessor controlled to the Rheo Knee(®) II on quality of life, balance confidence and measures of mobility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised crossover trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research department of a rehabilitation centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Persons with a transfemoral amputation or knee disarticulation (n=10).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were assessed with their own non-microprocessor controlled knee and with the Rheo Knee(®) II. The low-profile Vari-Flex with EVO foot was installed in both knee conditions, followed by eight weeks of acclimatisation. The order in which knees were tested was randomised.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire with addendum, Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale, Timed "up & go" test, Timed up and down stairs test, Hill Assessment Index, Stairs Assessment Index, Standardized Walking Obstacle Course and One Leg Balance test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant higher scores were found for the Rheo Knee(®) II on the Residual Limb Health subscale of the Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire when compared to the non-microprocessor controlled prosthetic knee (median [interquartile range] resp. 86.67 [62.21-93.08] and 68.71 [46.15-94.83]; P=0.047) In addition, participants needed significantly more steps to complete an obstacle course when walking with the Rheo Knee(®) II compared to the non-microprocessor controlled prosthetic knee (median [interquartile range] resp. 23.50 [19.92-26.25] and 22.17 [19.50-25.75]; P=0.041). On other outcome measures, no significant differences were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transition towards the Rheo Knee(®) II had little effect on the studied outcome measures.
authors.affiliation: Roessingh Research and Development, The Netherlands Laboratory of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente, The Netherlands e.prinsen@rrd.nl.
authors.forename: Erik C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Prinsen
authors.affiliation: Roessingh Research and Development, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marc J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Nederhand
authors.affiliation: Roessingh Rehabilitation Technique, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olsman
authors.affiliation: Roessingh Research and Development, The Netherlands Laboratory of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Rietman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Amputation; measures of mobility; prosthetics; quality of life