Prosthetic foot

FIGURE 42.8 Prosthetic feet (a) 1E50/1E51 Advantage DP2 foot (Otto Bock Healthcare, Duderstadt, Germany), (b) Endolite echelon foot (Image courtesy Endolite, USA), and (c) PROPRIO FOOT (Image courtesy Ossur, Inc.). 

Prosthetic Feet. With the exception of partial foot amputees, the prostheses for all lower extremity amputees require a prosthetic foot. The prescription criteria for these feet take into consideration the amputation level, residual limb length, subject activity level, cosmetic needs, and the weight of the individual. Prosthetic feet range from the SACK (solid ankle cushioned heel) foot, which is relatively simple and inexpensive, to dynamic-response or energy-storing feet that are more complicated and considerably more costly. Note that prosthetic feet are often foot and ankle complexes. As such, prosthetic feet may replace plantarflexion/dorsiflexion, pronation/supination, and inversion/eversion. Prosthetic feet are typically categorized in terms of the function(s) they provide or replace and whether or not they are articulated. 

FIGURE 33.17 Prosthetic feet and ankle units SACH, single-axis. Carbon Copy HP, STEN flexible keel foot, 1D2S dynamic plus foot, TniSt, Modular III, Re-Flex VSP, and Pathfinder. Also shown is a torsion ads r. 

D. H. Nielsen, D. G. Shurr, J. C. Golden, and K. Meier (1989), Comparison of energy cost and gait efficiency during ambulation in below-knee amputees using different prosthetic feet - a preliminary report. J. Prosthet. Orthot. 1(1) 24-31. 

D. G. Barth, L. Schumacher, and S. S. Thomas Gait analysis and energy cost of below-knee amputees wearing six different prosthetic feet, J. Prosthet. Orthot. 4(2) 63-75. 

Y. Ehara, M. Beppu, S. Nomura, Y. Kunimi, S. Takahashi (1993), Energy storing property of so-called energy-storing prosthetic feet. Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 74 68-72. 

R. D. Snyder, C. M. Powers, and Perry J. Fontaine (1996) The effect of five prosthetic feet on the gait and loading of the sound limb in dysvascular below-knee amputees, J. Rehabil. Res. Dev. 32(4) 309-315. 

L. Torbum, J. Perry, E. Ayyappa, and S. L. Shanfield (1990), Below-knee amputee gait with dynamic elastic response prosthetic feet A pilot study. J. Rehabil. Res. Dev. 27(4) 369-384. 

Prosthetic feet manufacturers need to produce durable, lightweight, anatomically designed artificial feet that provide the wearer with optimal feel and performance. 

Prosthetic applications for the foot have been primarily rigid in design, with little if any movement. Traditionally prosthetic feet were made from leather, metal, plastic, or a combination of such materials. Modern foot prostheses has improved, with computer-controlled components designed to handle the user s weight and the return of his or her momentum. Such products have been reported to be comfortable enough for participation in rec-... 

At present, there is no standard method for prosthetic foot design. It is important that prosthetic feet are designed with the considerations that they have some degree of resemblance to the normal foot in terms of outlook as well as functionality. The outcomes of this work proved that proper modeling of foot can results in justifiable prosthetic design both the outlook and the functionality. The technique used in this work, however, may require ftirther study because the foot prototype has not been tested on patients. Therefore, at this stage the technique is sufficient to justify that the prosthetic foot design should consist of ankle-foot mechanism and a flexible keel. 

Prince F, Winter DA, Sjonnensen G, et al. Mechanical efficiency dining gait of adults with transtibial amputation A pilot study comparing the SACK, Seattle, and Golden-Ankle prosthetic feet. J of Rehabilitation Research Development. 1998 35(2) 177-185. 

In Malaysia, there is a need to produce lower limb prosthetic that is affordable. At present, good prosthetic feet are mostly the import products. A typical foot prosthesis costs around RM8,000. This is comparable to the price of a motorcycle. In fact, a number of young male patients lost their lower limb due to motorcycle accidents Unluckily for them, it is like losing a motorcycle and limb, and as a replacement they need to purchase prosthetic foot. 

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