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A Review of Commonly Used Prosthetic Feet for Developing Countries: A Call for Research and Development

Justin Z. Laferrier, Ana Groff, Sarah Hale and Nathan A. Sprunger

Major advances in research and development of prosthetic feet have increased the function and quality of life for many individuals with lower limb amputations residing in industrialized nations in the last two decades. A negative aspect of this new R&D is that the vast majority of end users reside in developing nations and are not able to benefit from this new technology due to the cost, durability, maintenance and accessibility of these components. Research is needed in this area for design and development of a cost effective prosthetic foot that meets economic, environmental, and physical standards which can handle adverse climates and working conditions. Information on this subject is limited and through more research and feedback from this population a more functional design may be developed. The current review attempts to synthesize available data on commonly used prosthetic in developing countries to include; demographics, engineering, materials, design and current issues in order to help guide the future of low-cost prosthetic foot development. Of all the prosthetic feet reviewed only two of (>25) low-cost prosthetic feet have passed international standards organization testing (ISO). Based on the available research the current prosthetic feet feasibly available to individuals with lower limb amputations in developing nations fall short in providing durable, cost effective and/or biomechanically appropriate options. It is our belief that through standardized testing and research a more versatile foot can be designed and manufactured to be functional and affordable in developing countries. End user feedback directly from the majority will help direct future research and development so developing countries can have an optimal, yet logical option for prosthetic feet.