| | | Steven Gard, PhD, Principal Investigator
Stefania Fatone, PhD, Project Director Co-Investigators:
Rebecca Stine, MS, Prosthetics Research Laboratory
Mark Edwards, CP, MHPE, Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center (NUPOC) Funded by: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) The loss of a limb, including weight-bearing structures and joints, can place considerable strain on the remaining musculoskeletal system. For example, loss of normal joint motion such as stance-phase knee flexion and pelvic obliquity may result in decreased shock absorption and increase the risk of joint degeneration. Forces involved in walking must be transferred safely and comfortably between the prosthesis and residuum. Prosthetic sockets form the interface between the residual limb and the prosthesis and are important for the transmission of forces and distribution of pressure between the amputee and prosthesis. Prosthetic socket design is important to the overall comfort, function, and control an amputee may have. The two most commonly used transfemoral prosthetic sockets are the Quadrilateral (Quad) and Ischial Containment (IC) sockets (see figure).  |  |  | | Quadrilateral Socket | Ischial Containment Socket |
Although widely used, there is limited objective analysis available of the effects of either socket design on transfemoral amputee gait. The purpose of this project is to investigate the effects of Quad and IC sockets on the energy expenditure, pelvic and hip kinematics of transfemoral amputees in order to arrive at a better quantitative understanding of transfemoral socket design principles. | | |
