Leg joint function in sprinting and jumping of athletes with and without below the knee amputation

We analysed the sagittal plane stance phase joint mechanics of athletes with and without unilateral below the knee amputation (BKA) during maximum speed sprinting and long jump. We estimated the strut, spring, motor and damper like function of the main lower extremity joints using functional joint indices. We found that the basic functional behaviour of the affected and non-affected legs of athletes with BKA is different from the basic functional joint behaviour of non-amputee athletes.