How the Stiffness of a Prosthetic Foot Affects Movement and Daily Activities in People with Below-the-knee Amputations
This study wants to learn how changing the stiffness of a prosthetic foot affects how people with below-the-knee amputations move and do everyday tasks. We are looking for people who use either a bone-anchored prosthetic leg or a standard socket prosthetic leg to join!
Why this Research Matters
Some people have trouble using a standard socket prosthetic leg, so bone-anchored legs are another option. These connect directly to the bone with a special implant. People that use a standard socket prosthetic leg say that how stiff the foot is can affect how they walk, their balance, how the leg feels, and how much energy they use. But this doesn’t seem to happen with bone-anchored prosthetic legs. No one has looked at how the stiffness of the prosthetic foot may affect movement and function differently between these two types of prosthetics. This study will be the first study to help guide doctors on which type of prosthetic foot works best for each type of prosthetic leg.
What to Expect
If you join this study, you will do movement tests while walking in different ways and at different speeds on a treadmill. You will stand on a platform that gently vibrates to check how well you feel things and how your body works. These tests will be done while you wear three different prosthetic feet: one for everyday use, one that is softer, and one that is stiffer. You will also fill out surveys about your health, how well you move, how active you are, and your quality of life. Finally, you will get a CT scan of your amputated leg to measure how strong your bone is.
Study Duration
You can finish the study in 2 or 3 visits, and each visit will take about 3 to 4 hours. The visits do not have to be back-to-back days.
Who can Participate
You may be able to join the study if you:
- Are between 18 and 80 years old
- Have had one leg amputated below the knee
- Use either a regular socket prosthetic or bone-anchored prosthetic leg
- Had your amputation surgery or bone-anchored surgery at least one year ago
- Can walk on your own for at least 5-minutes
- Do not have any nerve, muscle, bone, joint, or inflammatory disease
- Are not pregnant or brest feeding
Study ID
Protocol Number: 25-0854
Compensation Information
Meet the Team
Brecca Gaffney
Principal Investigator