Tool to help choose the right prosthetic foot
A new clinical device to enable informed prosthesis prescription decision-making.
This project will build a wearable robotic device that can copy how different prosthetic feet feel so patients and clinicians can try options and find the best match for walking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northeastern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11308656 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I would wear a lightweight robotic ankle-foot device that can mimic the mechanical behavior of many commercial prosthetic feet so I can try how each one feels while walking. The device lets clinicians change properties like forefoot stiffness, heel stiffness, and energy return without switching actual prostheses. The team will use gait measurements and feedback to match the simulated foot behavior to my walking pattern and goals. This testing will be done with people who use ankle-foot prostheses to refine the tool and its matching methods.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a lower-leg (ankle/foot) amputation who use or plan to use an ankle-foot prosthesis and can walk safely for fitting and testing are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who do not ambulate with an ankle-foot prosthesis (for example some above-knee amputees), those unable to walk safely for testing, or those seeking immediate surgical treatments may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help people find a better-fitting prosthetic foot faster, improving comfort, mobility, and long-term joint health.
How similar studies have performed: This is a relatively new approach: gait-analysis tools and fitting aids exist, but wearable devices that emulate many commercial prosthetic feet for real-time trials are not yet common.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Northeastern University — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shepherd, Max — Northeastern University
- Study coordinator: Shepherd, Max
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 below.