GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO EVALUATE A LOWER-LIMB PROSTHETIC DEVICE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

INTRODUCTION:Evaluating the effectiveness of a lower-limb prosthetic device (LLPD) during daily activities is a crucial step in the iterativeprocess of redesigning and product development of new generation prostheses. To date, several different experimental protocols havebeen applied to evaluate a LLPD in laboratory and field conditions, which causes study heterogeneity. Therefore, the aim of this systematicreview was to formulate guidelines and recommendations in order to standardize the experimental methodology regarding the evaluationof a LLPD.METHODS: Two databases, PubMed and Web of Science, were screened and studies published between 1997 and 2019 evaluating aLLPD were included.RESULTS: Thirty-six articles were included. We identified forty-four outcome measures in four main categories: 54% were biomechanical,25% physiological, 14% physical performance and 7% psychological. Seven eligible tests were identified: the two- and six-minute walktest (80%), slope walking (14%), stair climbing (8%), dual tasks (6%), timed up & go (3%) and balance tests (3%).CONCLUSION: The main recommendation is to include functional tasks in a case-controlled (early stage) or crossover counterbalancedmatched group study design (later stage). Biomechanical, physiological, physical performance and psychological outcome measures arekey factors to investigate the human response to a LLPD in order to standardize experimental protocols.