Functional Mobility Training with a Powered Knee and Ankle Prosthesis.
Suzanne B Finucane, Levi J Hargrove, Ann M Simon
PMID 36003138WHAT IT FOUND
Experienced transfemoral amputees learned to walk, climb stairs, and stand using a powered prosthesis in just 3 to 6 hours.
Most achieved independent movement across all modes within three short sessions, though the device was not commercially available.
Key findings
01Most participants achieved independent ambulation across all functional modes after only three short training sessions.
02Three participants could not complete the full training, primarily due to the device's weight or the cognitive demand of reciprocal stair climbing.
03The training protocol was developed on research devices that are not yet commercially available to clinicians.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study used research prototypes that are not yet commercially available, so the specific parameter adjustments and device behaviours described may not directly apply to current market products. Participants were already high-functioning community ambulators, so the results do not indicate how well individuals with lower functional levels or vascular causes for amputation would adapt to powered devices. The training occurred in a controlled rehabilitation setting, and the authors note that additional training would be necessary for outdoor or uneven terrain. The study was not a controlled trial; it describes the process of developing a training protocol over ten years without comparing outcomes to a control group or standard care.
Declared interests
The authors declared no commercial or financial conflicts of interest. The work was funded by the US Army, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this training protocol can be applied to commercially available powered prostheses today. The devices used were research prototypes that are not yet on the market, and the specific control parameters and hardware may differ significantly from what clinicians will encounter in practice.