Gait symmetry of transfemoral amputees walking with mechanical and microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knees

Abstract

INTRODUCTION The gait of a unilateral lower limb amputee is asymmetrical [1], which applies increased stress on the intact leg [2] and can cause long-term complications. The most common complications, due to this altered load distribution and gait asymmetry for people who have lived with an amputation for long time are back and/or intact limb pain [3,4], osteoarthritis in the intact limb [2,3], osteopenia/osteoporosis in the residual limb [2], and other musculoskeletal problems [4]. For the above-knee amputee (AKA), the prosthetic knee joint is one of the most critical components of the prosthesis because it influences all of these outcomes. Prosthetic knees can be classified into those that use mechanical control of the knee joint (non-microprocessor knee, NMPK) and those that use microprocessor control (MPK). The purpose of this study was to compare the gait asymmetry of active transfemoral amputees while using a NMPK compared to a MPK. We hypothesized that the patient would have improved gait symmetry when wearing a MPK.