A team of researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of patient outcomes to determine differences in physical function and mobility outcomes as patients transitioned from a non-microprocessor to microprocessor prosthetic feet. The researchers observed a significant increase in physical function and significant improvements in several mobility items.
Patient-reported benefits associated with the adoption of the prosthetic foot-ankle mechanisms were collected from 23 individuals through the longitudinal use of a custom short form of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Physical Function and individual items from the Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire.
The data collected from the measures supported the beneficial impact of microprocessor feet on improving socket comfort, reducing back pain, improving sit-to-stand transfers, enhancing hill ascent and descent, and stair negotiation.
The open-access study, “Microprocessor feet improve prosthetic mobility and physical function relative to non-microprocessor feet,” was published in the Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering.
