Article

Prosthetic gel liners are often prescribed for persons with lower-limb
amputations to make the prosthetic socket more comfortable. However, their
effects on residual limb pressures and gait characteristics have not been
thoroughly explored. This study investigated the effects of gel liner thickness
on peak socket pressures and gait patterns of persons with unilateral transtibial
amputations. Pressure and quantitative gait data were acquired while subjects
walked on liners of two different uniform thicknesses. Fibular head peak
pressures were reduced (p = 0.04) with the thicker liner by an average of 26 +/-
21%, while the vertical ground reaction force (GRF) loading peak increased 3 +/-
3% (p = 0.02). Most subjects perceived increased comfort within the prosthetic
socket with the thicker liner, which may be associated with the reduced fibular
head peak pressures. Additionally, while the thicker liner presumably increased
comfort by providing a more compliant limb-socket interface, the higher
compliance may have reduced force and vibration feedback to the residual limb and
contributed to the larger vertical GRF loading peaks. We conclude that
determining optimal gel liner thickness for a particular individual will require
further investigations to better identify and understand the compromises that
occur between user perception, residual-limb pressure distribution, and gait
biomechanics.

Langue : ANGLAIS