The Impact of Footwear on Gait in Unilateral Transtibial Amputees v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Impact of Footwear on Gait in Unilateral Transtibial Amputees
IRAS ID
365897
Contact name
Richard Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Salford
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study aims to explore how different types of everyday footwear affect walking and balance in people with a below-knee amputation (unilateral transtibial amputees). Many prosthetic users report that footwear choice influences their comfort, confidence, and stability, yet little research has measured these effects in detail.
Participants will be adults who use a prosthetic leg and are able to walk independently. They will attend one session at the University of Salford Human Performance Laboratory, where walking tasks will be assessed using motion-capture cameras, force plates, and in-shoe pressure sensors. Each participant will complete the tasks in different types of commonly available footwear. The testing will be supervised by trained researchers and will not involve any invasive procedures.
The study is funded by a postgraduate scholarship and sponsored by the University of Salford. It will help identify which footwear characteristics best support safe and efficient walking for prosthetic users. Findings will provide useful guidance for service users when selecting everyday footwear.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/YH/0108
Date of REC Opinion
22 May 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion