Mechanical Testing of Jaipur Foot against Low, Mid and High Activity Prosthetic Feet

Description

Jeremy Telford, a rotational clinical fellow in orthopedics at Salford, delivered a presentation on the Jaipur Foot, a low-cost prosthetic foot developed in 1968 by Dr. PK Sethi. Telford introduced the Jaipur Foot as a solution to the inadequacies of the SACH feet, which lacked critical features such as dorsiflexion, cosmetic acceptance, durability for barefoot use, and the ability to handle uneven terrain. The Jaipur Foot was designed with modifications such as vulcanized rubber for durability and structural adjustments for improved function.



Telford conducted a study comparing the Jaipur Foot's mechanical properties with Western prosthetics, specifically analyzing energy return and stiffness across three types of feet: a low activity Otto Bock 1D10 Dynamic and two energy-storing prosthetics made of carbon fiber (1C30 Trias and 1C60 Triton). Through rigorous static load testing, he assessed how each foot responded to forces simulating human gait, ultimately revealing significant mechanical inefficiencies in the Jaipur Foot, with nearly 50% energy loss per gait cycle compared to the nearly 80% efficiency of the dynamic prosthetics.



Telford emphasized the relationship between the Jaipur Foot’s design and the cultural requirements of its users, noting its focus on affordability and functionality over the ideal mechanical performance seen in more expensive counterparts. He acknowledged the limitations of his research, including sample size and variability in production quality of the Jaipur Foot across different clinics. Telford concluded that while the Jaipur Foot demonstrated superior adaptability for specific cultural movements, improvements in mechanical properties should not compromise its functionality, advocating for more research to enhance the Jaipur Foot's effectiveness.

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