Comparison Between Three Types of Prosthetic Feet
Comparison Between Three Types of Prosthetic Feet
One Solid Ankle Cushion Heel (SACH) and two Dynamic Elastic Response (DER) prosthetic feet
 will be tried six times in random order by the patient. The patient will be an active
 prosthetic foot user who walks several kilometers per day and was amputated at the
 trans-tibial level because of injury. Gait pattern will be rated in comparison with the
 patient's previous prosthetic foot by a physiatrist, physiotherapist, prosthetist and the
 patient. One-leg standing and 10-meter walking tests will also be performed.
The prosthetic feet will be: one SACH foot (by Otto Bock - foot C, advertised for activity
 category 1) and two DER feet (Dynamic Motion by Otto Bock - foot B, advertised for activity
 category 2-3; and Triton by Otto Bock - foot A, advertised for activity category 3-4).

 All the prosthetic feet are of the same size and chosen for the patient's weight. They will
 be covered so that neither the patient nor professionals will be able to see which prosthetic
 foot is being used.

 The study is blinded because the prosthetist designated for changing the prosthetic feet will
 be the only one who will know which prosthetic is being used. The orientational sample size
 calculation and the randomisation plan were prepared by a statistician.

 The first trial will be performed using the patient's own prosthetic foot in order to
 establish a baseline. The patient will then have to to compare the prosthetic feet with his
 own existing prosthetic foot and rate the ability to walk on even terrain (100m), uneven
 terrain (grass, 100m), decline and incline (i.e., slope), and up and down the stairs (one
 floor) on a five-point Likert-type scale (-2 much worse, -1 slightly worse, 0 the same, 1
 slightly better, 2 much better). After each trial he will also perform the one-leg standing
 test (with three repetitions) and the 10-meter walking test. Before each trial, the patient
 will be given 15 minutes for adaptation to each new prosthetic foot without the presence of
 the assessors.

 The three expert observers will be: a physical and rehabilitation medicine specialist
 physician, a certified prosthetist-orthotist, and a physiotherapist. Each has got over 20
 years of experience in rehabilitation of patients after amputation and observation of their
 gait. They will be blind to the currently used prosthetic foot. They will follow the patient
 and assess his walking using the same rating scale in comparison with the initial trial as
 the patient.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  active prosthetic foot user who walks several kilometers per day

 -  amputation at the trans-tibial level >5 years ago

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  other medical problems