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Study of Powered Prosthetic Legs for Amputees

This study is testing a powered prosthesis, a type of artificial leg, for people with above-knee amputations. The goal is to help these prostheses adapt better to different daily activities, like walking at various speeds or going up stairs. Researchers want to understand how the leg's movement and force (joint biomechanics) can be continuously adjusted to feel more natural. They will measure things like how much work the prosthetic joint does, how long it takes to adjust the prosthesis, and how long someone can use it during an endurance test, all within one day. The study is looking for 40 participants, including people with amputations and healthy volunteers aged 18 to 65. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 40 participants. It is not specified if it is randomized or blinded.
What's involved
Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for measurements taken at 1 day.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06138977

Controlling Locomotion Over Continuously Varying Activities for Agile Powered Prosthetic Legs

Recruiting
NAAges 18–65Interventional
University of Michigan
~40 participants
Updated 2026-02-13 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Powered prosthesis

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Joint work
Measured over 1 day
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Amputation

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Amputation

NCT06138977

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Rehab Lab, University of Michigan

    Ann Arbor, Michiganstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Robert D Gregg, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Michigan

Who to contact

Emily Klinkman, MS
[email protected]
734-846-0046
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Aged between 18 to 65 years
Aged between 18 to 70 years.
Weigh less than 250 lbs due to limitations in the design of the prosthesis.
Amputee subjects will be more than two months post independent ambulation with an amputation at the transfemoral level in order to use the above-knee prosthesis.
Amputee subjects will have a mobility classification of K2/K3/K4 ambulators (minimum community ambulatory) and have the ability to ambulate without an assistive device beyond their prosthesis.

Exclusion

Pregnant (self-report)
Any significant neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disorder that would interfere with the study
Unable to walk for 20 minutes
History of any cardiovascular, vestibular, or visual diseases and/or impairments that may interfere with the study
Cognitive deficits that would impair their ability to give informed consent or impair their ability to follow simple instructions during the experiments. In the case of screening for cognitive deficits, the consenting researcher will ask the subject if he/she has any prior history of cognitive deficits.
Adults with a known allergy to medical grade tape
Weigh over 250 pounds body
Pregnant (self-report)
Any significant neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disorder that would interfere with the study
Inactive or physically unfit, unable to walk for 20 minutes
An excessively long residual limb length, and/or a non-removable cosmetic cover determined by the prosthetist performing the evaluations
Cognitive deficits or visual impairment that would impair their ability to give informed consent or impair their ability to follow simple instructions during the experiments. In the case of screening for cognitive deficits, the consenting researcher will ask the subject if he/she has any prior history of cognitive deficits.
Co-morbidity that interferes with the study (e.g., pace maker placement, severe ischemia, cardiac disease, etc.)
Adults unable to consent
Adults with a known allergy to medical grade tape

What this trial measures

  • Joint work1 day

    Mechanical work at the prosthetic knee and ankle will be assessed for participants using the powered prosthesis in A1.3 and A2.3, with comparisons to able-bodied averages. Joint work will be calculated by multiplying the joint's commanded torque by its measured velocity, resulting in units of Joules.

  • Tuning time1 day

    The time for a prosthetist to configure the powered prosthesis for above-knee amputee participants will be assessed in A3.1 and A3.3.

  • Endurance test time1 day

    The time to complete multiple cycles through an ambulation circuit will be recorded with above-knee amputee participants' take-home prosthesis and a powered prosthesis. The ambulation circuit comprises, sit-to-stand, walking, stair ascent/descent, ramp descent/ascent, and stand-to-sit.