Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: August | Volume: 10 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 230-234
Comparison of Balance in Unilateral Transtibial Amputees Using Exoskeletal Prosthesis with Solid Ankle Foot with Two Different Cushion Variants
Prakash Sahoo1, Smita Nayak2, Sasmita Behera3, Saiprabha Mishra4, Ameed Equebal5
1Demonstrator, NIEPMD, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
2Demonstrator, PDUNIPPD, New Delhi, India.
3Orthotist, NIMAHNS, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
4Prosthetist and Orthotist, CRSR, Bhadrak, Odisha, India.
5Asst. Director cum Asst.Prof, N.I.L.D, Kolkata, India.
Corresponding Author: Prakash Sahoo
ABSTRACT
Background: The process of rehabilitation is to restore function and to regain an acceptable level of functioning and social participation. In case of amputation, to reach this goal, prosthesis is used to compensate for the functional loss. Prosthetic feet are devices designed to replace one or more function of the biological human ankle-foot system. The prosthetic feet may influence the mechanics of gait, energy expenditure and balance.
Methods: 30 eligible subjects were included in the study as per random sampling. In group 1 subject with unilateral transtibial amputation were provided exoskeletal transtibial prosthesis having PTB socket with solid ankle foot with polyurethane cushion and cuff suspension, and in group 2 transtibial amputees were provided exoskeletal transtibial prosthesis having PTB socket with solid ankle foot with rubberized cushion and cuff suspension.
Results: The result of the present study shows there is no statistically significant difference between the two groups i.e. polyurethane cushion foot and rubberized cushion foot in terms balance. Balance in case of polyurethane cushion is higher than rubberized cushion. In results it was found that the comparisons were not significant for both the groups. (p>0.05)
Conclusions: This study concluded that although both the feet are reconcilable to the person with unilateral transtibial amputation but solid ankle foot with polyurethane cushion shows more effectiveness than solid ankle foot with rubberized cushion in terms of balance.
Key words: Transtibial amputee, Exoskeletal Prosthesis, Traumatic amputation, Balance, Polyurethane cushion, Rubberized cushion.