Orthotics and Prosthetics Commons^™

Evaluation Of Prosthetic And Orthotic Technologies Using Ai Technology, Iris Reyna, Samerial Brown, Gary Guerra, Ed Khu

Posters - 2026

Individuals with lower limb prosthetics have amputations and abnormal limb motions, which poses a high risk of injury when doing everyday activities. In this field, evaluation of individuals' prosthetics are done through biomechanical analysis and gait analysis. This analysis is used to study human movement and evaluate the mobility and quality of life of amputee patients as well as determining the modifications, positioning, and alignment needed to ensure stability with prosthetic and orthotic technologies (Kumar & Bhowmik, 2024). Trunk flexion has importance to the study because of its impact on lower limb kinetics, kinematics, the increase of ground reaction forces, …

Clinical Utility Of Opencap Motion Analysis In Lower Limb Prosthesis Users, Sarahi Fernandez Leon

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

The use of prosthetics has gradually increased due to various diseases, and it is estimated that 35-40 million people are prosthetic/orthotic users, with the number estimated to increase to two billion by 2050. Mobility has been determined to be a strong predictor of quality of life. There are various ways to measure mobility and predict outcomes in lower-limb amputees (LLA), such as self-report and performance-based measures. However, these come with many limitations, showcasing the need for quantitative measures of gait parameters to allow for better development of prosthetic components. Motion analysis tools are expensive and time consuming, but an inexpensive, …

Exploring The Relationship Of Intact Limb Knee Joint Loading With Step Lengths And Step Length Symmetry In Individuals With Lower Limb Amputation, Edward D. Syrett

Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with unilateral lower limb amputation (LLA) frequently experience intact limb knee pain, dysfunction, and osteoarthritis. These problems can worsen pre-existing reductions in mobility and quality of life that this population regularly experiences. It is widely accepted that knee joint loading is implicated in the development of knee joint issues, and intact limb knee joint load alterations are thought to be widespread in individuals with LLA. Prior work suggests that gait deviations frequently present in this population may be a contributory cause of these altered forces. These deviations can take many forms, but individuals with LLA commonly demonstrate alterations in …

Biomechanically-Consistent Skin Stretch As An Intuitive Mechanism For Sensory Feedback: A Preliminary Investigation In The Lower Limb, Jenny A. Kent

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

The proprioceptive loss accompanied by lower limb amputation can impair function and mobility. We explore a simple, mechanical skin-stretch array configured to generate superficial tissue behaviour that might occur with movement about an intact joint. Four adhesive pads attached around the circumference of the lower leg were connected via cords to a remote “foot” mounted on a ball joint attached to the underside of a fracture boot, such that “foot” reorientation would result in skin stretch. In two discrimination experiments performed with and without the connection, with no view of the mechanism, and with minimal training, unimpaired adults (i) estimated …

The Immediate Effects Of The Nunee Patellar Support On Individuals With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Nick Linn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common form of anterior knee pain caused by general overuse, muscular weakness or strength imbalances, and poor movement coordination leading to abnormal alignment or mal-tracking of the patella. Recent guidelines do not recommend the use of a knee orthosis due to a lack of evidence supporting their effectiveness. A new patellar support (NuNee, K-Neesio LLC.) which uses distraction force to relieve pressure placed on the patella, has been proposed. The purpose of this study was to examine the immediate effects of the NuNee patellar support on perceived pain, biomechanics, and function in individuals with …

3d Prosthetics Effects On Standing Posture In Unilateral Upper Limb Deficient Children, Keaton Young

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

3D Prosthetics Effects on Standing Posture in Unilateral Upper Limb Deficient Children

Keaton Young

Department of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Introduction

Upper Limb Reduction Deficiency (ULD) is a congenital disability that affects the upper limb, which the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 1,500 babies are born with ULD in the United States yearly ^1,2. Prior research has focused on functional treatment of the upper limbs but has lacked observance of the effects that prosthetics and limb loss incur to the trunk. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the acute effects …

The Efficacy Of Custom And Prefabricated Orthotic Interventions For Common Running Related Injuries, Jake Tavernite

Writing Across the Curriculum

One of the most popular sports in the world is running. Nearly 17 million people in the United States alone crossed finish lines in road races in 2017.¹ Unfortunately, there is an extremely high rate of running related injuries (RRI) that prevent or hinder individuals from training and competing. A 2007 systematic review revealed that the incidence of lower extremity running related injuries ranges from 19.4% to 79.3%.² Orthotics are frequently prescribed as a conservative treatment option for various injuries such as plantar fasciitis (PF), patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), and stress fractures. Although …

The Effect Of Coronal Prosthetic Alignment Changes On Socket Reaction Moments, Spatiotemporal Parameters, And Perception Of Alignment During Gait In Individuals With Transtibial Amputation, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Toshiki Kobayashi, Fan Gao, Masataka Kataoka, Kuniharu Okuda

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

Introduction: The alignment of a prosthesis is clinically determined based on observations by clinicians and the subjective perception of amputees during gait. However, this process has been reported to be unreliable. Socket reaction moment has been reported to be significantly impacted by alignment changes, but the impact of these alignment changes on other gait parameters is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of coronal alignment changes of a transtibial prosthesis on socket reaction moment, spatiotemporal parameters, and perceptions of alignment during gait in amputees.

Methods: Nine individuals with transtibial amputation participated in this study. Socket …

The Effects Of Orthotics And Increased Plantar Sole Mechanoreceptor Activation On Turning Performance In Individuals With Parkinson’S Disease, Kelly A. Robb

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Locomotion and turning are complex movement patterns essential to activities of daily living. Individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) report difficulties turning, often coupled with impaired balance and increased fear of falling. The purpose of this within-subject study was to determine if orthotics, with and without a textured top cover, can improve gait stability and turning performance within Parkinson’s participants. Seven participants with a diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, aged 55-80 years old, participated in the study. Participants completed three testing sessions; baseline, 4 weeks post-baseline, and 5 weeks post-baseline. The ‘footwear only’ and ‘footwear + non-textured orthotic’ conditions were tested …

Biomechanical Analysis Of Gait Kinetics Resulting From Use Of A Vacuum Socket On A Transtibial Prosthesis, Maria De Lourdes Ramos Gonzalez

Honors College Theses

The technology and design of lower limb prosthetics have evolved greatly since their introduction. The current study proposed to compare the effects of a conventional pin socket attachment and a vacuum socket attachment for a transtibial amputee. Whereas traditional measurements of gait utilize force plates and camera systems, this study made use of a small tri-axial load cell located at the base of the socket to measure the forces and moments exerted during a regular gait cycle. The hypothesis tested stated that a vacuum pump socket attachment, when compared to a non-vacuum (pin) socket, will have a significant effect on …

Effect Of Traumatic Brain Injury Among U.S. Servicemembers With Amputation, Mitchell J. Rauh, Hilary J. Aralis, Ted Melcer, Caroline A. Macera, Pinata Sessoms, Jamie Bartlett, Michael R. Galarneau

Kinesiology & Sport Management Scholarship

Servicemembers with combat-related limb loss often require substantial rehabilitative care. The prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI), which may impair cognitive and functional abilities, among servicemembers has increased. The primary objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of TBI among servicemembers with traumatic amputation and examine whether TBI status was associated with discharge to civilian status and medical and rehabilitative service use postamputation. U.S. servicemembers who had a combat-related amputation while deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan between 2001 and 2006 were followed for 2 yr postamputation. Data collected includes injury mechanism; postinjury complications; Injury Severity Score (ISS); and …

Development Of Software To Estimate Pressures On The Residual Limbs Of Amputees By Means Of A Pylon Mounted Transducer, Malli K. Yalamanchili

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The alignment of prosthesis has been recognized as one of the main factors that determine successful prosthetic outcomes for trans-tibial amputees. Alignment is defined as the relative position and orientation of the prosthetic components. Misalignment can result in changes in the position and orientation of the joints of the leg and moments experienced by them during gait, increases in energy use, and discomfort or even tissue breakdown at the socket/stump interface. Hence it is very important to align the prosthesis in correct manner. Gait analysis can be used to examine the effects of incorrect alignment of the prosthesis during gait. …

Comparison Of Selected Orthotic Devices On Ground Reaction Forces Produced During A Drop Landing, Betsy Faye Halwes

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Context: The effect of different types of athletic shoes, foot orthoses, and other arch support materials on lower extremity kinetics and ground reaction forces during walking and running gait has been documented; however, the potential effects of such devices on ground reaction forces during drop landings has not been extensively studied. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate if over-the-counter orthotics, made of the same material, affect vertical and mediolateral ground reaction forces during a drop landing. Design and Setting: A lx3 repeated measures design guided this study where the independent variable, orthotic, has 3 levels (no orthotic-control, …