Abstract
Taking off shoes in the house and sitting on the floor are cultural practices in Japan. In the past, those who have had lower limb amputations could not maintain a sitting position on the floor, because their prostheses came from western countries. Taking off shoes causes a leg-level difference between the prosthesis and the other leg. Without shoes, foot drop occurs and causes knee instability.
This article discusses a project, that is, the development of the fore joint (F J) foot, which enables stable walking with or without shoes. To study their effectiveness, three different kinds of prosthesis, the F J foot, a conventional foot, and the solid ankle cushion heel (SACH) foot were evaluated with and without shoes in 40 patients, who have had lower limb amputations. Gait cycles and foot pressure patterns of walking on a f alt surface were studied. The tests showed that the F J foot produced gait cycles and foot pressure patterns (p<0.05) closest to normal. The F J foot was extremely effective for walking with or without shoes. The F J foot contributed to improvements in the activities of daily living in the Japanese lifestyle.
