Vacuum Level Effects on Knee Contact Force for Unilateral Transtibial Amputees with Elevated Vacuum Suspension

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bloswick D ; Greenland K ; Merryweather A ; Xu H ; Zhao J
• Description:
  The elevated vacuum suspension system (EVSS) has demonstrated unique health benefits for amputees, but the effect of vacuum pressure values on knee contact force (KCF) is still unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of vacuum levels on KCF for unilateral transtibial amputees (UTA) using the EVSS. Three-dimensional gait was modeled for 9 UTA with five vacuum levels (0-20 inHg [67.73 kPa], 5 inHg [16.93 kPa] increments) and 9 non-amputees based on kinematic and ground reaction force data. The results showed that the vacuum level effects were significant for peak axial KCF, which had a relatively large value at 0 and 20 inHg (67.73 kPa). The intact limb exhibited a comparable peak axial KCF to the non-amputees at 15 inHg (50.79 kPa). At moderate vacuum levels (5 inHg [16.93 kPa] to 15 inHg [50.79 kPa]), co-contraction of quadriceps and hamstrings at peak axial KCF was similar for the intact limb, but was smaller for the residual limb comparing with the non-amputees. The intact limb showed a similar magnitude of quadriceps and hamstrings force at 15 inHg (50.79 kPa) to the non-amputees, but the muscle coordination patterns varied between the residual and intact limbs. These findings indicate that a proper vacuum level may partially compensate for the lack of ankle plantarflexor and reduce the knee loading. Of the tested vacuum levels, 15 inHg (50.79 kPa) appears most favorable, although additional analyses with more amputees are suggested to confirm these results prior to establishing clinical guidelines. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Amputees Author Keywords: Biomechanics Biomechanical Modeling Biomechanics Joint Loading Kinetics Lower Extremities Prosthesis Prosthetic Devices Vacuum Level
• ISSN:
  0021-9290
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 8 ; Utah
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  110-116
• Volume:
  57
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20067296
• Citation:
  J Biomech 2017 May; 57:110-116
• Contact Point Address:
  Andrew Merryweather, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, 1495 E. 100 S., Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
• Email:
  a.merryweather@utah.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• Performing Organization:
  University of Utah
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Biomechanics
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:df79ffcd525482ef7639c69bd15e398df80216640694964bd33156758f018d233f9d0238433cf7463dbcccde20bc925e9a93a1b0b830306d9daa8fd173aeb9cb
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230872/cdc_230872_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 874.71 KB ]