Design and Operation Requirements for a Foot and Ankle Prosthesis

The loss of mobility due to amputation or severe damage to the ankle joint can significantly reduce a person's quality of life. The ankle joint and foot play a key role in maintaining balance, movement, and weight support, making the development of prostheses that restore these functions a critical task in biomedical engineering. This article examines the main design and operational requirements for ankle joint prostheses. It begins by analyzing the anatomical and biomechanical characteristics of the joint, followed by a discussion of conditions that necessitate prosthetic replacement, including traumatic injuries, vascular diseases, and degenerative joint changes. An overview of existing solutions, their limitations, and an analysis of current technological innovations are provided. The article justifies the need for the development of prostheses with optimized weight and mechanical parameters, capable of energy transmission and reproducing natural movements to enhance mobility and user independence.