Prosthetic foot principles and their influence on gait

This chapter describes mechanical properties of prosthetic feet and their effects on level gait of persons with amputations. These descriptions focus on recent literature and knowledge gained from controlled studies of different properties including stiffness/flexibility, damping, roll-over characteristics, active push-off in late stance phase, and toe clearance during swing phase. The chapter also discusses future directions in prosthetic foot research, including the need for both amputee-independent measurements combined with clinical trials. Specific approaches to future studies of prosthetic feet are proposed that could further our knowledge base and ultimately lead to improved prescription of prosthetic feet for persons with amputations.