Energy storage foot video

What are energy storing and return prosthetic feet?

Energy storing and return prosthetic (ESAR) feet have been available for decades. These prosthetic feet include carbon fiber components, or other spring-like material, that allow storing of mechanical energy during stance and releasing this energy during push-off .

Is a safe foot the original energy storing foot?

Although not a brand new design, the SAFE foot (Stationary Ankle Flexible Endoskeleton) has recently been advertised as "the original energy storing foot." In our view, this may be stretching the point, since we believe the flexible keel serves primarily to dissipate energy as it accommodates to irregular surfaces.

Are energy storing and return (ESAR) feet a good choice?

Energy storing and return (ESAR) feet are generally preferred over solid ankle cushioned heel (SACH) feet by people with a lower limb amputation. While ESAR feet have been shown to have only limited effect on gait economy, other functional benefits should account for this preference.

How can we measure energy storage and return in footwear during running?

A practical framework was developed that combines experimental measurements of foot + footwear mechanical power, with qualitative mechanical power estimates of individual structures, to evaluate energy storage and return in footwear during running.

Does footwear energy storage affect running performance?

Despite great interest surrounding the association between footwear energy storage and return and running performance, the timing and magnitude of mechanical work performed by footwear during running remains relatively unexplored.

Does footwear construction influence mechanical energy storage and return?

Footwear construction can also influence the timing of mechanical energy storage and return. In the footwear comparison ( Fig. 4 ), the advanced shoe foot + footwear system started generating positive work sooner (∼40% vs. ∼ 70% stance).