In Brief:
This study aimed to quantify the time course of changes in walking patterns among unilateral transtibial amputees whose prosthesis inertia properties were substantially altered to match to those of their intact limb. Matching the inertia properties between legs exacerbated stance time and swing time asymmetries, but improved peak knee moment symmetry during swing termination. The increased joint kinetic symmetry, however, required greater muscular efforts, particularly on the prosthetic side. Substantial alteration of the inertia properties of the prosthesis immediately altered temporal and joint kinetic symmetry between intact and prosthetic legs, both when mass was added to the prosthesis and when that mass was removed.
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