Energy Storing and -Revealing Prosthetic Feet; A Review Study

Since 1990 a new generation of prosthetic feet as "energy storing" in order to improve the performance and mobility of amputees entered to the markets. The aim of this study was to expansion and explanation of the concept of energy and terms relating to energy transfer as well as an overview of energy storing and returning measurement of prosthetic. Information & In this review study, a systematic search of electronic databases, Google Scholar and PubMed was done and papers published from 1950 to 2013 were studied. Key words used were included various combinations of energy analysis, ESAR prosthetic feet and their synonym terms. The results obtained from articles classified and examined in the three domains of concepts of energy and energy-related terms, methods of energy analysis in the prosthetic feet and functional classifications and naming of the feet enable to energy storing. Analysis of the structure and components of prosthesis make it possible to understand how it works. One of the major issues in the analysis of energy transfer of prosthesis is the proper amount of absorption and energy release and the effect of it on amputee. Optimal performance and health of amputee is effective in designing these kinds of prosthesis.