A novel design for decoupling the energy storage and return in passive ankle foot prostheses: A redesign of the VSPA foot

Conventional passive prosthetic feet cannot provide net positive mechanical energy, causing a strong reduction in push-off work. This decrease the comfortable walking speed and increases the metabolic cost of walking in amputees, as more than half of the positive work performed during able-bodied gait is done during the powered plantar flexion...