Profile of Physiological Cost Index in Users of Transtibial Prostheses with SACH Foot

Users of transtibial prostheses may experience increased physiological demands during walking because of altered biomechanics and compensatory strategies after amputation. The Physiological Cost Index (PCI) is an indirect index that uses changes in heart rate and walking speed to describe the physiological cost of walking. This study aimed to describe the PCI profile of users of transtibial prostheses with a Solid Ankle Cushion Heel (SACH) Foot. This article used a descriptive analysis of data from 14 unilateral transtibial prosthesis users who used a SACH Foot and met the study criteria. Variables included age, sex, height, body weight, body mass index, resting heart rate, walking heart rate, walking time, walking speed, and PCI. Data were presented as frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, minimums, and maximums. The mean age was 36.36 ± 4.34 years and the mean body mass index was 21.52 ± 0.70 kg/m². Mean resting heart rate was 79.86 ± 1.17 beats/min and increased to 101.71 ± 2.23 beats/min during walking. Mean walking speed was 65.63 ± 4.05 m/min, while mean PCI was 0.334 ± 0.042 beat/meter, with a range of 0.263–0.428 beat/meter. The profile demonstrates a cardiovascular response to walking among SACH Foot users and provides an initial description of walking physiological cost that may support further clinical evaluation.