Kinetic adaptations of the intact limb in transfemoral amputees using a microprocessor prosthetic knee

In recent decades, high-tech prostheses, including microprocessor-controlled knee (MPK), have been developed to improve the functional abilities of lower limb amputees and to reduce gait asymmetry for the prevention of early joint degradation of the intact limb. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in joint moment and power of the intact limb of transfemoral amputees (TFAs) with an MPK compared to healthy individuals in 2 walking speed conditions. Twenty-one TFAs with MPK and matched 21 healthy individuals performed a walking task at spontaneous and rapid self-selected speeds. Spatiotemporal gait parameters and intact limb kinetic data were recorded. The hip and knee moments in the frontal plane during rapid walking were not significantly higher than spontaneous walking in TFA group (respectively p = 0.08 and p = 0.48) and were lower than the control group. In the sagittal plane, the hip extensor moment in TFA was higher than the control group in the landing phase (p