Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the kinematic data and energy consumption of domestic swing and stance phase (SNS) control knee assembly in transfemoral amputees.
Method: Five male transfemoral amputees took prosthetic training of more than one week and evaluated with random applying 3 types of knee assembly; mechanical type, pneumatic type, and domestic SNS type. Kinematic data was obtained by the VICON 370 system (Oxford Metrics Ltd., UK.). Energy consumption was measured using a KB1-C (Aerosport Inc, U.S.A).
Results: Domestic SNS type showed a significantly increased walking speed, cadence and step length compared with mechanical type and pneumatic type (p＜0.05). Domestic SNS type showed a significantly increased maximal hip flexion and extension compared with mechanical type and pneumatic type (p＜0.05). Domestic SNS type showed decreased peak knee flexion at swing phase and significantly increased peak knee extension at stance phase compard with mechanical type and pneumatic type (p＜0.05). In energy consumption, the domestic SNS type tended to show a lower O2 cost and faster walking speed than the mechanical type and pneumatic type at free-walking.
Conclusion: We concluded the domestic SNS type had more tendency toward a normal gait pattern and lower energy consumption compared with mechanical type and pneumatic type.
