New prosthetic foot design put to the test in small study

This study tested a new type of prosthetic foot designed for people with below-knee amputation who have longer residual limbs. The foot is low-profile but aims to provide better flexibility and energy return, similar to taller prosthetic feet. Six adults who already use a low-profile foot walked with the new device so researchers could measure how much energy the ankle stores and how stiff it feels. The goal was to see if this new design works well enough to help users walk more naturally.