Ten B-K amputees were studied for stump-socket interface pressure changes upon ramp walking.
Five miniature pressure transducers were placed on the patellar tendon, kickpoint, medial and lateral tibial condyle and the calf. Flexion of the hip and knee joint was evaluated by electric goniometers and the gait pattern was analysed through foot switches.
Upon the level walking, the mean maximum pressure was 1.67kg/cm
2 at the patellar tendon and 0.86kg/cm
2 at the kick-point. The maximum pressures on the medial and lateral condyle and the calf were 1.01, 1.09, and 0.32kg/cm
2 respectively.
On the ramp walking, a remarkable pressure change was noted on the kick-point where the pressure was increased up to 1.40kg/cm
2 on 3 degree descending and decreased to 0.65kg/cm
2 on 3 degree ascending. On the patellar tendon, the pressure was decreased to 1.22kg/cm
2 on 3 degree descending. There was little change noted during the ramp walking in the lateral and medial tibial condyle and the calf.
On the level walking, flexion of the hip and the knee joint was 27.9 and 51.2 degree respectively and flexion of the joint was increased as the subject ascended.
The mean cadence was 80 per minute with the stance phase of 57.8% on the prosthetic leg and 62.5% on the nomal leg. This may indicate some instability of the prosthetic leg.
Finally, the computer analysis was compared with the conventional pen-recorder polygraph and future research is contemplated using the computer system.
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