title: BIOENERGETIC DIFFERENCES DURING WALKING AND RUNNING IN TRANSFEMORAL AMPUTEE RUNNERS USING ARTICULATING AND NON-ARTICULATING KNEE PROSTHESES.
abstract: Transfemoral amputation (TFA) patients require considerably more energy to walk and run than non-amputees. The purpose of this study was to examine potential bioenergetic differences (oxygen uptake (VO2), heart rate (HR), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE)) for TFA patients utilizing a conventional running prosthesis with an articulating knee mechanism versus a running prosthesis with a non-articulating knee joint. Four trained TFA runners (n= 4) were accommodated to and tested with both conditions. VO2and HR were significantly lower (p≤ 0.05) in five of eight fixed walking and running speeds for the prosthesis with an articulating knee mechanism. TFA demonstrated a trend for lower RPE at six of eight walking speeds using the prosthesis with the articulated knee condition. A trend was observed for self-selected walking speed, self-selected running speed, and maximal speed to be faster for TFA subjects using the prosthesis with the articulated knee condition. Finally, all four TFA participants subjectively preferred running with the prosthesis with the articulated knee condition. These findings suggest that, for trained TFA runners, a running prosthesis with an articulating knee prosthesis reduces ambulatory energy costs and enhances subjective perceptive measures compared to using a non-articulating knee prosthesis.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; Extremity Trauma & Amputation Center of Excellence (EACE), U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Tampa, FL, USA; 319 Minimal Care Detachment, U.S. Army Reserves, Pinellas Park, FL, USA.
authors.forename: M Jason
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Highsmith
authors.affiliation: OP Solutions, Inc., Tampa, FL, USA; Prosthetic Design + Research, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Jason T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Kahle
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Miro
authors.affiliation: Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, St. Augustine, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Larry J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Mengelkoch
keywords: Above-knee amputee; Energy costs; No-knee running prosthesis; Oxygen uptake; Physical therapy; Rehabilitation