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Influence of marker models on ankle kinematics in persons with partial foot amputation: An investigation using a mechanical model

Michael Dillon, PhD, BPO(Hons), et al.

Figure. Schematic of partial foot mechanical model constructed to determine accuracy of various marker sets for measuring ankle kinematics.

Previous investigations using marker-based gait analysis to describe how persons with partial foot amputation walk suggest that the amount of dorsiflexion (movement that bends the foot upward) is more exaggerated when walking with shoes or a prosthesis than when walking barefoot. This exaggeration may be caused by the amputated foot moving inside the shoe and/or the prosthetic forefoot deforming, events that are not easily measured with conventional marker sets. We used a mechanical model of an amputated foot to describe an alternative marker set and compare its accuracy with a conventional marker set and a potentiometer. Results showed that the conventional marker set was acceptable for measuring ankle motion in metatarsophalangeal and transmetatarsal amputations, but the accuracy of these measures was improved with use of the alternative marker set for Lisfranc amputations.


Volume 45 Number 4, 2008
   Pages 567 — 576

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