Effect of alignment changes on sagittal and coronal socket reaction moment interactions in transtibial prostheses

Alignment is important for comfortable and stable gait of lower-limb prosthesis users. The magnitude of socket reaction moments in the multiple planes acting simultaneously upon the residual limb may be related to perception of comfort in individuals using prostheses through socket interface pressures. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of prosthetic alignment changes on sagittal and coronal socket reaction moment interactions (moment-moment curves) and to characterize the curves in 11 individuals with transtibial amputation using novel moment-moment interaction parameters measured by plotting sagittal socket reaction moments versus coronal ones under various alignment conditions. A custom instrumented prosthesis alignment component was used to measure socket reaction moments during walking. Prosthetic alignment was tuned to a nominally aligned condition by a prosthetist, and from this position, angular (3° and 6° of flexion, extension, abduction or adduction of the socket) and translational (5 mm and 10 mm of anterior, posterior, medial or lateral translation of the socket) alignment changes were performed in either the sagittal or the coronal plane in a randomized manner. A total of 17 alignment conditions were tested. Coronal angulation and translation alignment changes demonstrated similar consistent changes in the moment-moment curves. Sagittal alignment changes demonstrated more complex changes compared to the coronal alignment changes. Effect of sagittal angulations and translations on the moment-moment curves was different during 2nd rocker (mid-stance) with extension malalignment appearing to cause medio-lateral instability. Presentation of coronal and sagittal socket reaction moment interactions may provide useful visual information for prosthetists to understand the biomechanical effects of malalignment of transtibial prostheses.