Prosthetic knees.

The purpose of this article is to provide a framework for evaluating the features of a knee. A single knee unit has a combination of several control features. As is expected, new units are introduced with improvements to certain features. Prosthetic knee selection generally is based on the patient's ability. An inappropriate knee selection (or improper adjustment) may leave the patient apprehensive and fearful that the knee might buckle with each step. An appropriate selection of a properly adjusted knee unit closely matches the functional ability of the patient and yields a smooth, reliable gait.