A Comparison Between Ischial-Containment and Sub-Ischial Prosthetic Sockets to Determine Their Effects on Secondary Health Conditions

August 12, 2026 updated by: VA Office of Research and Development
Long-term above-knee prosthesis users are at an increased risk of developing secondary musculoskeletal conditions compared to the general able-bodied population. One secondary physical concern is low back pain (LBP), for which the development is not entirely understood, but in above-knee prosthesis users it is believed to relate to asymmetries and compensations that are typically demonstrated and required to stand and walk. Understanding spinal motion and compensations will enhance our knowledge of the factors contributing to LBP, and possibly lead to the development of new prosthetic and therapeutic interventions to prevent or alleviate LBP, thereby improving mobility and quality of life for prosthesis users.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the effects of the standard ischial containment (IC) socket to a sub-ischial (SI) socket design on the spinal and pelvic motions and leg length (LLD) discrepancies of transfemoral prosthesis users. Data will be collected from 2 groups of transfemoral prosthesis users (15 SI socket wearers and 15 IC socket wearers) and a group of 15 able-bodied (AB) control participants. Gait and standing analyses will be conducted on each participant using a marker based motion capture system. Prosthesis users will wear their own conventional sockets for the gait and standing analyses. Kinematic and kinetic data will be analyzed for differences between the 2 groups of socket wearers and will also be compared to the control group.

The specific aims and hypotheses of this project are:

Aim 1: To measure dynamic leg length and kinematics of the pelvis and spinal segments in unilateral, transfemoral prosthesis users during gait. Quantitative motion analyses will be performed on two groups of 15 research participants with lower limb amputation using 2 different socket designs (IC and SI) walking over level ground at three self-selected walking speeds (normal, moderately fast, fastest). Data will be compared between socket type and to an AB control group. Hypothesis 1a-IC socket wearers will have a greater anterior pelvic tilt compared to SI socket wearers and AB controls, and they will exhibit considerably greater rotations of the pelvis and spinal segments during walking. Hypothesis 1b-The EMG activity of the lumbar erector spinae for SI socket users will better approximate the patterns of AB controls as compared to IC socket wearers. Hypothesis 1c-The dynamic LLD will be greater for IC socket users compared to SI socket wearers and AB controls.

Aim 2: To measure pelvic orientation and static leg length in unilateral, transfemoral prosthesis users during standing. A multi-segment model of the spine and pelvis will be used to determine neutral spinal, pelvis, and prosthetic alignment during standing for the research and AB control participants. Hypothesis 2a-IC socket wearers will demonstrate greater anterior pelvic tilt during standing compared to SI socket wearers and control participants. Hypothesis 2b-The prosthetic and sound leg lengths for both prosthesis user groups will be within 1.0 cm of each other during standing.

Aim 3: To estimate joint contact forces in the legs and lower back of unilateral, transfemoral prosthesis users and controls during gait. Computational musculoskeletal simulations will be used to comprehensively evaluate the data from Aim 1 to compare the lumbar joint loads between IC and SI socket wearers. Hypothesis 3-IC socket wearers will exhibit greater lumbar joint loads than SI socket wearers.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
45

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Illinois
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612
        • Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Rebecca Stine, MS

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Thirty unilateral transfemoral prosthesis users (15 with an ischial containment socket and 15 with a sub-ischial socket) and 15 able-bodied control participants.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

For all participants:

  • Ability to complete the experimental protocol without undue fatigue or health risks
  • Low Back Pain scale assessment (0-10) less than 4 (activities of daily living or quality of life not impacted)

In addition for persons with lower limb amputation:

  • Prosthesis user for a minimum of 2 years with their current socket design
  • Good fit with either an ischial containment (IC) or sub-ischial (SI) socket
  • Good skin integrity on their residual limb upon visual inspection
  • Does not require the use of assistive devices to walk

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Previously diagnosed with a spine condition (e.g., pinched nerve, bulging disc, etc.)
  • Previously diagnosed with an orthopedic or neuromuscular condition that may affect walking or balance (e.g., ankle fusion, Parkinson's disease, stroke, etc.)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Ischial Containment Socket user
Person with unilateral transfemoral amputation wearing an ischial containment socket
Sub-Ischial Socket user
Person with unilateral transfemoral amputation wearing a sub-ischial socket
Able-bodied control
Person without an amputation

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Anterior Pelvic Tilt Angle Between the IC Socket wearers and the SI Socket wearers/Able-Bodied Controls
Time Frame: To be measured on day 1 of the single study visit, within an estimated 3-hour timeframe
Anterior Pelvic Tilt will be calculated for all participants during the walking and standing trials. Participants will walk along a 10 meter walkway at varying speeds. Quantitative motion analysis using a marker based motion measurement system will be used to calculate anterior pelvic tilt.
To be measured on day 1 of the single study visit, within an estimated 3-hour timeframe

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Electromyography (EMG) Activity of the Lumbar Erector Spinae Between the IC Socket wearers and the SI Socket wearers/Able-bodied Controls
Time Frame: To be measured on day 1 of the single study visit, within an estimated 3-hour timeframe
EMG activity will be assessed using surface electrodes attached bilaterally to the erector spinae at and below T12/L1 and on the external oblique muscle. Data will be collected during the quantitative motion analysis.
To be measured on day 1 of the single study visit, within an estimated 3-hour timeframe
Lumbar Flexion Between the IC Socket wearers and the SI Socket wearers/Able-bodied Controls
Time Frame: To be measured on day 1 of the single study visit, within an estimated 3-hour timeframe
Lumbar flexion will be calculated for all participants during the walking and standing trials. Participants will walk along a 10 meter walkway at varying speeds. Quantitative motion analysis using a marker based motion measurement system will be used to calculate anterior pelvic tilt.
To be measured on day 1 of the single study visit, within an estimated 3-hour timeframe
Hip Joint Range of Motion (ROM) between the IC Socket wearers and the SI Socket wearers/Able-bodied Controls
Time Frame: To be measured on day 1 of the single study visit, within an estimated 3-hour timeframe
Hip Joint ROM will be calculated for all participants during the walking trials. Participants will walk along a 10 meter walkway at varying speeds. Quantitative motion analysis using a marker based motion measurement system will be used to calculate hip joint ROM.
To be measured on day 1 of the single study visit, within an estimated 3-hour timeframe
Dynamic Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD) Between the IC Socket wearers and the SI Socket wearers/Able-bodied Controls
Time Frame: To be measured on day 1 of the single study visit, within an estimated 3-hour timeframe
Dynamic LLD will be calculated for all participants during the walking trials. Participants will walk along a 10 meter walkway at varying speeds. Quantitative motion analysis using a marker based motion measurement system will be used to calculated dynamic LLD.
To be measured on day 1 of the single study visit, within an estimated 3-hour timeframe
Peak Lumbar Joint Loading Between the IC Socket wearers and the SI Socket wearers/Able-bodied Controls
Time Frame: To be measured on day 1 of the single study visit, within an estimated 3-hour timeframe
Lumbar joint loading during walking will be analyzed by performing musculoskeletal modeling simulations using data collected during the quantitative motion analysis.
To be measured on day 1 of the single study visit, within an estimated 3-hour timeframe

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
VA Office of Research and Development

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Rebecca Stine, MS, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 1, 2027

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 1, 2030

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2030

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 4, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 12, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 12, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • RRD2-014-25W

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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