BIONIC KNEES ALLOW OF SYMMETRICAL TEMPORAL-SPATIAL PARAMETERS OF GAIT COMPARED TO MECHANICALLY PASSIVE KNEE DESIGNS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the basic temporal-spatial parameters of gait and gait symmetry in transfemoral amputees with a bionic knee joint with those in patients using a mechanically passive joint in relation to non-pathological gait. Seven subjects with a transfemoral amputation participated in this study. The amputee subjects performed fifteen attempts to walk across two Kistler force plates embedded in the floor. Objective gait measurements were acquired with a computerized video motion analysis system utilizing seven infrared cameras (Qualisys). Gait with a bionic knee joint showed greater symmetry than gait with a mechanically passive joint. When using a bionic knee joint, the stance and swing times approximated those in people without pathology.