Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41484103›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

The SoftFoot Pro: an anthropomorphic and adaptive soft articulated prosthetic foot.

Anna Pace, Hristo Dimitrov, Eike Jakubowitz, Cristina Piazza, Giorgio Grioli, Lukas Proksch, Oskar C Aszmann, Dario Farina, Antonio Bicchi, Manuel G Catalano

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Anna PaceSoft Robotics for Human Cooperation and Rehabilitation, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy. anna.pace@iit.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4360-7668
Hristo DimitrovMRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1139-1003
Eike JakubowitzLaboratory for Biomechanics and Biomaterials (LBB), Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Cristina PiazzaDepartment of Computer Engineering, School of Computation Information and Technology, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0358-8677
Giorgio GrioliSoft Robotics for Human Cooperation and Rehabilitation, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy.
Lukas ProkschClinical Laboratory for Bionic Extremity Reconstruction, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-1571-160X
Oskar C AszmannClinical Laboratory for Bionic Extremity Reconstruction, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5530-726X
Dario FarinaDepartment of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7883-2697
Antonio BicchiSoft Robotics for Human Cooperation and Rehabilitation, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy.
Manuel G CatalanoSoft Robotics for Human Cooperation and Rehabilitation, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The flat, stiff sole of energy-storage-and-return prosthetic feet hinders adaptation to irregular terrains. This is among the causes both of high falling risk and of the consequential arising compensatory mechanisms in prosthetic users. To overcome that, we introduce the SoftFoot Pro, an anthropomorphic and adaptive prosthetic foot featuring a flexible and inextensible sole that passively adapts to obstacles, widening the ground contact area. Experimental comparison to a traditional carbon fibre foot in two unilateral transtibial prosthetic users highlights that the adaptive design reduces stance torque and power consumption at the contralateral knee and at both hips, both on level and uneven grounds. The more even load distribution between the two limbs reduces compensatory strategies and gait asymmetries, resulting in biomechanics closer to that of unimpaired individuals. These findings hold promise for enhancing quality of life for individuals with limb loss, potentially improving stability and reducing fall risk.

Indexed as

Artificial LimbsFootProsthesis DesignAdultAmputeesBiomechanical PhenomenaFemaleGaitHumansMaleMiddle AgedTorque

Identifiers

PMID41484103
PMCPMC12886964

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.