Affiliations: [a] Aix-Marseille University, IFSTTAR, Laboratoire de Biomécanique Appliquée, Marseille, France | [b] Service de Médecine Physique et Réadaptation, Hôpital Laveran, Marseille, France | [c] College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China | [d] The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Prosthetic rehabilitation improves the overall quality of life of patients, despite discomfort and medical complications. No quantitative assessment of prosthesis-patient interaction is used in routine protocols and prosthesis quality still results from the manufacturer’s know-how. OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to investigate whether pressure can be a relevant factor for assessing socket adequacy. METHODS: A total of 8 transtibial amputee volunteers took part in this experimental study. The protocol included static standing and 2 minutes walking tests while the stump-to-socket interface pressures were measured. Questionnaires on comfort and pain were also conducted. RESULTS: During static standing test, maximum pressures were recorded in the proximal region of the leg, with a peak value reaching 121.1 ± 31.6 kPa. During dynamic tests, maximum pressures of 254.1 ± 61.2 kPa were recorded during the loading phase of the step. A significant correlation was found between the pain score and static maximum recorded pressure (r= 0.81). CONCLUSIONS: The protocol proposed and evaluated in this study is a repeatable, easy-to-set quantified analysis of the patient to socket interaction while standing and walking. This approach is likely to improve feedback for prosthesis manufacturers and consequently the overall design of prostheses.
