# Toward Restoration of Normative Postural Control and Stability using Neural Control of Powered Prosthetic Ankles

> **NIH NIH R01** · NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH · 2024 · $613,496

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Falling and fear of falling are pervasive amongst individuals with lower limb amputation (LLA), a large and
growing population in the nation. The incidence of falls in individuals with LLA has been often reported during
activities requiring adjustments in posture. Transfers (e.g., sit-to-stand) and activities involving dynamic balance
control (e.g., reaching and turning) lead to many of the falls in dysvascular transtibial amputees. This evidence
highlights the urgent need to address balance and postural stability to enable effective activities of daily living for
individuals with LLA.
Current prosthesis technology does not allow the amputee users to apply typical postural control strategies at
prosthetic joints, limiting postural stability and yielding additional health concerns. Instead, amputees often
develop compensatory strategies with the residual (unamputated) joints and intact limb to control balance. The
loss of active degrees of freedom (e.g., ankle and/or knee) in the lower limb significantly limits the biomechanical
resources available for postural control.
Recent advancements in prosthesis and neural interfacing technologies potentially can address the need for
improved balance and postural stability in individuals with LLA; however, the related research emphasizes
efficient and comfortable walking, rather than balance and postural control. As balance and postural control
underly almost all activities performed in an upright position, using prosthesis technologies to directly address
the balance stability of amputees is highly needed but rarely investigated in our field.
The objective of this proposal is to investigate the effects of training to use direct electromyographic (dEMG)
control of a powered prosthetic ankle on transtibial amputees’ (Aim 1) balance and postural stability, (Aim 2)
neuromuscular control and coordination, and (Aim 3) cognitive processes, compared to daily prescribed passive
devices.
This project has clear clinical significance since it addresses the clinical need for improved balance and postural
stability in individuals with LLA. Use of dEMG-controlled powered prostheses provides users with additional
resources to assist with balance stability and improve balance confidence, which, in turn, improves their
community participation and quality of life. At the same time, the proposed project is expected to contribute
important knowledge to the field of prosthesis technology, make scientific contributions to the fields of motor
control and learning, biomechanics, and cognitive-motor interaction, and benefit physical therapy and amputee
rehabilitation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10900632
- **Project number:** 5R01HD110519-02
- **Recipient organization:** NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH
- **Principal Investigator:** He Huang
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $613,496
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-07 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10900632

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10900632, Toward Restoration of Normative Postural Control and Stability using Neural Control of Powered Prosthetic Ankles (5R01HD110519-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10900632. Licensed CC0.

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