Lower limb amputation can affect gait dynamics and increase loads on the remaining joints, among other comorbidities. Knee osteoarthritis is 17 times more common in below-knee amputees compared to the general population. For diabetic or dysvascular amputees, increased loads can also contribute to foot ulcers, potentially requiring further surgery.
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Compared to a conventional energy storing and return feet, Pro-Flex feet are designed to create exceptional mechanical power and range of ankle motion to reduce stress on the sound side.
Over a lifetime of steps, the potential health benefits are clear. Pro-Flex is a step in the right direction.
It is common for health services to prescribe inexpensive devices with restricted function to limited community walkers.
Prosthetic interventions that are specifically designed for the biomechanical requirements of the older user could help reduce the risk of falls, maintain greater mobility and independence, improve quality of life and help reduce the long term burden on health care services.
Conventional prostheses are usually firmly attached to the shin or ‘pylon’ and rely on the deflection or deformation of polymeric foot components to replicate the dorsiflexion and plantarflexion behaviour of the natural ankle.
Models of the biological foot have shown that this elastic behaviour is present at normal walking speeds43. However, at slow speeds, the ankle becomes a net absorber of energy and the elastic model no longer fits43. The viscoelastic behaviour of hydraulic ankles better replicates natural ankle biomechanics.
Hydraulic ankle technology has been proven to provide a number of benefits to elderly amputees. During walking, the deformable components of a prosthesis are deflected when loaded and return to their original position when unloaded.
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With a hydraulic ankle, when unloaded, the ankle joint remains in a dorsiflexed position, meaning that the toe clearance during swing phase is increased by 18%44 so there is less chance of catching the foot on the ground or another object and a trip occurring.
The damped motion of the ankle joint also absorbs energy and reduces the loading on the residual limb within the socket. One study measured reductions in peak pressures by up to 81% and in the rate of loading by up to 87%, during a number of different everyday activities45.
Hydraulic prosthetic ankles seek to mimic biological ankle action with a hydraulically-damped, articulating joint in combination with the deformable foot.
Blatchford hydraulic ankles respond to the design specifications that natural movement dictates, fine-tuning joint position to align the body for optimum posture and comfort.
By continuously adjusting to absorb and release energy, our hydraulic ankles allow for an efficient roll-over, remaining perfectly aligned with the user for the next step to help reduce the risk of falls.
The best prosthesis replicates the dynamic and adaptive qualities of natural limb movement. This approach has resulted in the design of the world’s first hydraulic ankle-foot and award-winning technology by the Blatchford team.
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