New artificial leg for ski boot testing

For years, artificial legs have been used in ski boot testing, mainly for the determination of shaft-stiffness, flexibility range, and pressure distribution. Pressure distribution measurements with the existing standard leg (TUEV prosthesis) showed significant differences from measurements on human legs. This study improves the old prosthesis to get results comparable to a real-life situation. By comparing the individual pressure distribution of 14 male subjects with the group's statistically determined average pressure distribution, the person with the fewest differences from the average distribution curve was found. By rebuilding his lower leg in shape and size, changing the joint position, using a plastic shell to simulate the tibialis anterior, and finally, cushioning it with a flexible material to simulate soft tissue, a new prosthesis was designed that showed a major improvement to the old standard leg.