{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,29]],"date-time":"2026-01-29T22:59:58Z","timestamp":1769727598688,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":52,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,21]],"date-time":"2024-03-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1710979200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n<jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Lower limb amputation contributes to structural and functional brain alterations, adversely affecting gait, balance, and overall quality of life. Therefore, selecting an appropriate prosthetic ankle is critical in enhancing the well-being of these individuals. Despite the availability of various prostheses, their impact on brain neuroplasticity remains poorly understood.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n<jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>The primary objective is to examine differences in the degree of brain neuroplasticity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between individuals wearing a new passive ankle prosthesis with an articulated ankle joint and a standard passive prosthesis, and to examine changes in brain neuroplasticity within these two prosthetic groups. The second objective is to investigate the influence of prosthetic type on walking performance and quality of life. The final objective is to determine whether the type of prosthesis induces differences in the walking movement pattern.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n<jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Participants with a unilateral transtibial amputation will follow a 24-week protocol. Prior to rehabilitation, baseline MRI scans will be performed, followed by allocation to the intervention arms and commencement of rehabilitation. After 12 weeks, baseline functional performance tests and a quality of life questionnaire will be administered. At the end of the 24-week period, participants will undergo the same MRI scans, functional performance tests and questionnaire to evaluate any changes. A control group of able-bodied individuals will be included for comparative analysis.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n<jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>This study aims to unravel the differences in brain neuroplasticity and prosthesis type in patients with a unilateral transtibial amputation and provide insights into the therapeutic benefits of prosthetic devices. The findings could validate the therapeutic benefits of more advanced lower limb prostheses, potentially leading to a societal impact ultimately improving the quality of life for individuals with lower limb amputation.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec005\">\n<jats:title>Trial registration<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p><jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" ext-link-type=\"uri\" xlink:href=\"https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/ct2\/show\/NCT05818410\" xlink:type=\"simple\">NCT05818410<\/jats:ext-link> (Clinicaltrials.gov).<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0299869","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,21]],"date-time":"2024-03-21T17:38:01Z","timestamp":1711042681000},"page":"e0299869","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Human-Prosthetic Interaction (HumanIT): A study protocol for a clinical trial evaluating brain neuroplasticity and functional performance after lower limb loss"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"19","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0117-8356","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Elke","family":"Lathouwers","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3216-4045","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Bruno","family":"Tassignon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3280-368X","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Alexandre","family":"Maricot","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ahmed","family":"Radwan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Maarten","family":"Naeyaert","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0041-6359","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Hubert","family":"Raeymaekers","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Peter","family":"Van Schuerbeek","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Stefan","family":"Sunaert","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Johan","family":"De Mey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7553-9957","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Kevin","family":"De Pauw","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,21]]},"reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0299869.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"119","DOI":"10.1186\/s12984-022-01097-1","article-title":"A review of user needs to drive the development of lower limb prostheses","volume":"19","author":"S Manz","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Neuroeng Rehabil"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0299869.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.5604\/01.3001.0009.8980","article-title":"Analysis of selected factors determining quality of life in patients after lower limb amputation- a review article","volume":"89","author":"A Grzebie\u0144","year":"2017","journal-title":"Pol Przegl Chir"},{"issue":"S4","key":"pone.0299869.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.7205\/MILMED-D-15-00510","article-title":"A Narrative Review of the Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated With Development of Knee Osteoarthritis After Traumatic Unilateral Lower Limb Amputation","volume":"181","author":"S Farrokhi","year":"2016","journal-title":"Mil Med"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0299869.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1682\/JRRD.2006.11.0147","article-title":"Review of secondary physical conditions associated with lower-limb amputation and long-term prosthesis use","volume":"45","author":"R Gailey","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Rehabil Res Dev"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0299869.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"552","DOI":"10.1016\/j.spinee.2018.08.011","article-title":"Low back pain in persons with lower extremity amputation: a systematic review of the literature","volume":"19","author":"MJ Highsmith","year":"2019","journal-title":"Spine J"},{"issue":"1\u20132","key":"pone.0299869.ref006","first-page":"100007","article-title":"Understanding Low Back Pain in Traumatic Lower Limb Amputees","volume":"1","author":"B Sivapuratharasu","year":"2019","journal-title":"A Systematic Review. 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