Comparison of normal and amputee gait with added weight

The area of prosthetic design has long focused on the lightest and presumably most energy efficient designs of prosthetics. Tests to measure energy efficiency are often time consuming or require expensive metabolic equipment. Therefore, it has been assumed that lighter designs are better than heavier ones. However, simple measures such as maximum ambulation time have been shown to be useful for determining functional status in clinical populations. In the study described, a 1-lb weight was attached to the ankle to simulate prosthetic design changes: specifically, to manipulate weight asymmetry between legs. Normal controls and amputees were analyzed with and without added weight during a maximum ambulation time test and during walking on a treadmill. In addition to metabolic data, kinematic data were analyzed to obtain biomechanical gait parameters