Optimizing Prosthetic Shock Absorption for High-Demand Mobility of Service Members with Leg Amputation

Shock-absorbing prosthetic legs are designed for high-impact activities that are relevant to active duty service members. These prostheses act to soften the impact forces as the leg collides with the ground. While there are numerous commercially-available shock-absorbing prostheses, there are currently no objective guidelines for prescribing such devices. The goal of this proposal is to study the effects of various modular shock-absorbing prosthetic components (feet, ankles, to pylons) on user performance during a wide range of high-demand activities such as walking on slopes, stairs, during pivot maneuvers, and load carriage. To do this, we will employ novel experimental platforms and analytical techniques to test Service Members and Veterans using various combinations of shock-absorbing prostheses, while we obtain estimates of musculoskeletal health-related outcomes (forces, motion, and energy of the legs) and qualitative surveys on mobility and comfort.