Static and fatigue strength characterization of a custom-made Running Prosthetic Foot

<p>Engineering of Sport 15 - Proceedings from the 15th International Conference on the Engineering of Sport (ISEA 2024)</p> <p>Recent advancements in Running Prosthetic Feet (RPF) have elevated athletes with lower limb amputations to elite performances. However, several aspects regarding static and fatigue structural integrity remain unknown. The absence of standardized test protocols for static and fatigue assessment of RPF, coupled with manufacturers’ limited disclosure beyond stiffness Category, creates an information gap. A method for estimating static and fatigue life properties of RPF is needed. With this aim, a custom-made RPF was chosen as case study to introduce a method for assessing static and fatigue strength of general RPF when very few information is known, and a very small number of specimens are available.  </p>