Kinetic Differences Using a Power Knee and C-Leg While Sitting Down and Standing Up: A Case Report

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Recently, the Power Knee has been made commercially available in limited release offering the ability to generate torque to assist with activities requiring active assist with knee extension. This report describes the kinetic profile of a person with unilateral transfemoral amputation, using two different prosthetic knees while sitting down and standing up. This case study was performed in the Motion Analysis Laboratory at the University of South Florida. The participant was a 65-year-old man with right transfemoral amputation secondary to diabetic complications. The subject used the Otto Bock C-Leg and Ossur Power Knee. Subject performed sitting and standing while using two separate knee prostheses. The main outcome measures were bilateral hip and knee moments, vertical ground reaction force, and degree of asymmetry. While sitting down, the Power Knee resulted in markedly enhanced symmetry with the subject's hip moment asymmetric toward the amputated side. While standing up, the Power Knee produced a more symmetric knee moment. In this subject, the Power Knee produced more symmetry when sitting down compared with standing up.