WHY POWER?

When you are living with limb loss, power is a missing ingredient. Returning power to the mobility equation has demonstrated benefits we intuitively understand. With power, your steps get lighter, and your world expands.

REDUCE ENERGY COST

"Without certain muscles, people who use
a prosthesis expend 30-60% more energy
than those with intact limbs." ¹

POWER KNEE lowers the energy cost
of walking² as compared to regular
microprocessor knees.

IMPROVE SYMMETRY

For most people with limb difference,
it is challenging to walk symmetrically.
The negative results impact stamina every
day and lead to a greater risk of low back
pain and osteoarthritis.³⁻⁷

POWER KNEE improves symmetry* across
activities including walking, standing up,
and navigating stairs.²𝄒⁸⁻¹⁰

How is POWER KNEE different than a typical microprocessor knee?

Passive Prosthetic Knees

Without power, prosthetics knees are passive. Microprocessor knees (MPKs) do more to control motion like providing resistance while sitting down and controlling walking speed. MPKs revolutionized prosthetic care in the past 20 years, improving safety and mobility by delivering intelligent control of motion.

But there was still a missing ingredient that is fundamental to how we move – Power.

Powered Prosthetic Knees

Power Knee is a new category of knee joint and ushers in a new era in prosthetic technology.

Building on MPK technology benefits, the addition of power transforms by creating motion. With the harmonic drive motor, less energy is required, and the results are a more natural and efficient gait and new functions such as powered lift for standing or going up stairs.

REFERENCES
  1. Genin JJ, Bastien GJ, Franck B, Detrembleur C, Willems PA. Effect of speed on the energy cost of walking in unilateral traumatic lower limb amputees. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 2008;103(6): 655
  2. Power Knee Mainstream Dynamic - Evaluation Report Synopsis, Össur hf, Steinþóra Jónsdóttir (2021). Data on file at Össur.
  3. Devan H, Tumilty S, Smith C. Physical activity and lower-back pain in persons with traumatic transfemoral amputation: a national cross-sectional survey. J Rehabil Res Dev 2012;49(10):1457-66.
  4. Devan H, Hendrick P, Ribeiro DC, Hale LA, Carman A. Asymmetrical movements of the lumbopelvic region: is this a potential mechanism for low back pain in people with lower limb amputation? Med. Hypotheses 2014;82(1):77–85.
  5. Matsumoto ME, Czerniecki JM, Shakir A, Suri P, Orendurff MS, Morgenroth DC. The relationship between lumbar lordosis angle and low back pain in individuals with transfemoral amputation. Prosthet and Orthot Int 2019 Apr;43(2):227-232. Epub 2018 Aug 18.
  6. Morgenroth DC, Orendurff MS, Shakir A, Segal A, Shofer J, Czerniecki JM . The relationship between lumbar spine kinematics during gait and low-back pain in transfemoral amputees. Am J Phys Med Rehab 2010;89(8):635–43.
  7. Harandi VJ, Ackland DC, Haddara R, Lizama LE, Graf M, Galea MP, Lee PV. Gait compensatory mechanisms in unilateral transfemoral amputees. Medical Engineering & Physics. 2020 Jan 7.
  8. Wolf, E. J., Everding, V. Q., Linberg, A. A., Czerniecki, J. M. & Gambel, C. J. M. Comparison of the Power Knee and C-Leg during step-up and sit-to-stand tasks. Gait Posture 38, 397–402 (2013).
  9. Highsmith, M. J. et al. Kinetic asymmetry in transfemoral amputees while performing sit to stand and stand to sit movements. Gait Posture 34, 86–91 (2011).
  10. Knut Lechler. Biomechanics of sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit movements in unilateral transfemoral amputees using powered and non-powered prosthetic knees - Congress Lecture [5038] Abstract [1459]. (2014).

References for our brochure can be found here.