Prosthetic foot and ankle stiffness for above-knee amputees' walking and standing
Official title: Effect of Prosthetic Foot-Ankle Stiffness on Standing and Walking Performance in Transfemoral Prosthesis Users
Funded at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center · NIH-11415404 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project changes stiffness in prosthetic feet and ankles to find settings that help people with above-knee amputations walk and stand better without making their prosthetic knee unstable.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Jesse Brown VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2022 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX003768-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415404 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with transfemoral (above-knee) amputations who use a prosthetic leg and can walk and stand during testing.
✕Less likely to help
People with below-knee amputations, those who are unable to walk or stand safely, or those using very different prosthetic systems may not benefit from the findings.
What this research studies
You would try different combinations of foot and ankle stiffness while using your usual prosthesis so researchers can measure how well you walk and how comfortably and steadily you can stand. The team will systematically change the stiffness of the prosthetic foot and ankle and record walking biomechanics, standing balance, and any effects on prosthetic knee stability. Measurements will inform practical guidelines that prosthetists can use to pick and tune components. The work is being done at a VA medical center and may be especially relevant to Veterans with above-knee amputations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better-fitted prostheses that improve walking and standing comfort and safety for above-knee amputees.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows foot or ankle stiffness can affect gait, but systematically combining and tuning both for walking and standing in transfemoral users is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gard, Steven a. — Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Gard, Steven a.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.