State-of-the-art research in lower-limb prosthetic biomechanics-socket interface: A review

Scientific studies have been conducted to quantify attributes that may be i mportant in the creation of more functional and comfortable lower-limb pros theses. The prosthesis socket, a human-machine interface, has to be designe d properly to achieve satisfactory load transmission, stability, and effici ent control for mobility. The biomechanical understanding of the interactio n between prosthetic socket and the residual limb is fundamental to such go als. The purpose of this paper is to review the recent research literature on socket biomechanics, including socket pressure measurement, friction-rel ated phenomena and associated properties, computational modeling, and limb tissue responses to external mechanical loads and other physical conditions at the interface. There is no doubt that improved biomechanical understand ing has advanced the science of socket fitting. However, the most recent ad vances in the understanding of stresses experienced at the residual limb ha ve not yet led to enough clinical consensus that could fundamentally alter clinical practice. Efforts should be made to systematically identify the ma jor discrepancies. Further research should be directed to address the criti cal controversies and the associated technical challenges. Developments sho uld be guided to offer clinicians the quantification and visualization of t he interaction between the residual limb and the prosthetic socket. An unde rstanding of comfort and optimal load transfer as patterns of socket interf ace stress could culminate in socket design expert systems.