ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate characteristics of foot pressure distribution with or without partial prosthetic foot in transmetatarsal amputee. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were 9 transmetatarsal amputees. Foot pressures were measured at hallux, the 1st-5th metatarsal head (MTH), mid-foot, condyle area by F-scan system in amputated or contralateral foot during active walking. RESULTS: In amputated foot, mean peak pressure was greatest in midfoot without prosthetic foot but it was greatest in hindfoot with prosthetic foot. In unaffected foot, although mean peak pressure was higher in hallux, and 1-5th MTH compared to amputated foot, it was greatest in hind foot both with and without prosthetic foot. However, in unaffected foot, mean peak pressure significantly decreased in hallux and 5th MTH after wearing the prosthetic foot. There was a significant difference in mean peak pressure in hallux and 5th MTH between amputated and unaffected foot after wearing prosthetic foot. However, other region had no significant difference with or without prosthetic foot between feet. CONCLUSIONS: The use of partial prosthetic foot tends to shift weight bearing from the heel area to forefoot and could significantly reduce hind foot peak pressure and redistributed to peak pressure. The partial prosthetic foot can also offer the peak pressure to reduction both amputated foot and unaffected foot and help to toe off during walking.