A Biomechanical Evaluation of the Ossur Power Knee in Persons With Transfemoral Amputation

Microprocessor-controlled knees (MPKs) do not typically utilize motors to power joint rotation, but they automatically adjust resistance or damping in the joint to improve swing- and/or stance-phase control as appropriate for the prosthesis user during gait. The Ossur Power Knee is the only commercially-available MPK that uses a motor to provide active power generation during walking and other activities. The purpose of this proposed investigation is to perform and compare biomechanical evaluations of the Power Knee and Ossur Rheo XC, a passive MPK, during walking and other activities by prosthesis users. Furthermore, mobility between male and female subjects will be compared to determine if there are differences in prosthetic knee usage on the basis of sex.