Reciprocating gait prosthesis for the bilateral hip disarticulation amputee

This paper describes the design, manufacture and use of a new prosthesis wh ich produced reciprocating gait for a bilateral hip disarticulation amputee . A special mechanism used the hip extension moment during weight bearing t o drive the contralateral limb through the swing phase. The user rapidly at tained efficient and safe reciprocating gait, together with simple donning and doffing. The success of this project has major implications for hip dis articulation amputees in terms of profound improvements of their independen ce and self-esteem.