A novel prosthetic foot with a flexible rubber ankle for the Indonesian population: a finite element analysis

Prosthetic foot design is crucial for enhancing mobility in individuals with lower limb amputations. However, many existing designs struggle to replicate the natural flexibility and energy return of the human ankle. This study aimed to develop a novel prosthetic foot optimized for the Indonesian population, incorporating a flexible rubber ankle to better mimic human ankle motion and improve energy efficiency. The prosthetic foot design featured an aluminum alloy and a rubber filler at the ankle joint. The rubber filler was modeled as a hyperelastic material using the Mooney-Rivlin model. Finite element analysis (FEA) was conducted to simulate quasi-static loading across various stance phases of the gait cycle. Stress distribution and deformation were analyzed to evaluate the prosthetic foot’s performance. FEA simulations revealed that deformation was primarily concentrated around the ankle, peaking during the terminal stance phase. The rubber ankle demonstrated effective energy absorption and return, with 80.78% of the energy returned during the terminal stance phase. This indicates a high level of efficiency in replicating natural ankle behavior. The novel prosthetic foot design, featuring a flexible rubber ankle, successfully mimics human ankle flexibility and enhances energy return during gait. This design holds significant potential for improving mobility and comfort for the Indonesian population, particularly during the critical terminal stance phase of walking. Further experimental validation and real-world testing are recommended to confirm its performance and applicability.