Abstract
Lower-limb amputation is characterized by the loss of the ankle musculature, removal of the biological foot and ankle joints, and reduced sensory capability. This altered musculoskeletal system results in multiple biomechanical adaptations, including asymmetry in joint kinematics, joint kinetics, and muscle activity. Altered movement coordination has the potential to result in long-term secondary conditions, such as joint degeneration and pain, as well as lower physical activity levels, greater metabolic cost of movement, and higher fall risk. Many prosthetic devices are designed with the goal of reducing movement asymmetry to improve mobility, and should ideally replace the function of a biological leg. We have performed multiple studies aimed at investigating altered biomechanics in people who have undergone an amputation, using both experimental and musculoskeletal modelling approaches.
In this talk, I will present some of our investigations in powered and passive prosthetic device performance during movement, muscular function on challenging terrain, and the regulation of dynamic balance in people with unilateral transtibial amputation. These studies highlight the importance of biomechanical analyses in advancing prosthetic design and informing rehabilitation protocols after amputation
Biography
Dr Anne Silverman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines and also currently a Visiting Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College London. She earned her B.S.E. from Arizona State University and M.S.E. and PhD from The University of Texas at Austin, all in mechanical engineering. Dr Silverman’s research program in musculoskeletal biomechanics centres on understanding muscle function to develop effective treatment and device interventions. As director of the Functional Biomechanics Laboratory, she uses experimental movement analysis and computational whole-body modelling techniques to identify functional roles of individual muscles in pathological movement. These tools are applied to various motions and populations with the ultimate goal of improving mobility for people with disabilities. Her work has been funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and Department of Defense and has been published in the Journal of Biomechanics, Journal of Biomechanical Engineering and Gait & Posture. She is active in the American Society of Biomechanics and currently serves as an Associate Editor for Gait & Posture.