This paper reports on a pilot study
investigating the effects on the gait of two transfemoral
amputees of to the inclusion of a torque
absorber (TA) and its location relative to the
knee unit. Both subjects carried out gait tests
with a prosthesis with no TA with, a TA
proximal to the knee unit and with a TA distal to
the knee unit. Three-dimensional gait analysis
was carried out to establish the kinematic and
kinetic gait parameters of both the prosthetic and
sound side. It was found that the TA did not
significantly affect the sagittal kinetic and
kinematic parameters of the sound or the
prosthetic side. However, for one subject the
axial rotation of the socket relative to the foot
was significantly greater with the TA. It was
concluded that by using the methodology of this
pilot study, it is possible to investigate the
rotations in the transverse plane within the
prosthetic limb and pelvis. Further, including a
TA may reduce the relative motion between the
stump and the socket and therefore may decrease
skin breakdown due to diminished shear force
