VA Office of Research and Development
Microprocessor-controlled knees (MPKs) automatically adjust resistance or damping in the joint to improve swing- and/or stance-phase control as appropriate for the prosthesis user during gait. The purpose of this proposed investigation is to determine if there are substantial physical and psychological benefits to fitting lower functioning Veteran ambulators having transfemoral amputations with an MPK compared with a nonmicroprocessor-controlled knee (NMPK). Using a repeated-measures, cross-sectional experimental design, approximately 20 Veterans with unilateral, transfemoral amputations will be evaluated on two separate occasions at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center or the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, first with their conventional NMPK and then again after a 2-month accommodation period with the College Park Icon MPK.
Limb loss is a potentially devastating event in a person's life, often resulting in profound physical, psychological, and vocational consequences. A transfemoral amputation results in greater physical and functional impairment and an increased risk of falling in patients as compared to someone with a transtibial amputation. Furthermore, balance confidence and fear of falling appears to be a persistent and pervasive problem among lower-limb prosthesis users, which adversely affects mobility and quality of life. During the past 30 years there have been several major developments in prosthetic kn…
Inclusion Criteria: * Unilateral, transfemoral amputation (any etiology) * Residual limb length classified as standard (i.e., medium) to long * Prosthesis user for at least 1 year prior to enrolling in the study * K2-level classification while using their nonmicroprocessor-controlled knee (NMPK) * Good sensation on their residual limb * Good skin integrity upon visual inspection * Presents with good socket fit based upon a standard assessment by the study prosthetist Exclusion Criteria: * Bilateral leg amputations * Individuals with a knee disarticulation
Subjects will be fitted and trained on the College Park ICON MPK. An accommodation period of 2 months will be provided prior to evaluation with the knee joint.
Subjects will be tested walking with their conventional, mechanical prosthetic knee prior to being fitted with the MPK.
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