COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF MATERIALS OF PROSTHETIC LINERS FOR LOWER LIMB AMPUTEES

Liners are components of transtibial prostheses directly in contact with the amputee lower limb. They are generally made of soft materials, typically styrene, silicone or polyurethane, and offer to patients a cushioning effect during walking or running. The present study focuses the attention on liners commercially available and, in particular, on the materials which they are made of. A comparison among their mechanical behaviours is here proposed in order to better understand their influence on the amputee’s comfort. With this aim, different static tensile and compression tests are performed on specimens obtained from the components, considering the materials at first unused and then aged with an acid solution, simulating the contact with human sweat. From the tests, common mechanical responses are evidenced by the different materials. The final aim is to offer to orthopaedics and physiotherapists valid and objective indications to customize liners to their patients necessities.