ScienceNov 5, 2026, 6:51 PM UTC·1 min read

AGH Student Designs Prosthesis With Side-Tilting Ankle Joint

Agata Skalska of AGH Kraków has built a lower-limb prosthesis whose ankle moves sideways, aiming to help above-knee amputees walk on uneven terrain.

Prototype of a lower-limb prosthesis with a carbon fibre sole and a movable ankle module designed at AGH in Kraków. — Image: MamStartup

Agata Skalska, a student at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics at AGH University of Krakow, has designed a lower-limb prosthesis that targets one of the weakest points of current devices: the ankle. The solution is aimed at patients after amputation above the knee, who struggle with everyday movement on difficult ground.

A movable ankle for uneven ground

Most commercial prostheses have a rigid ankle joint, which makes walking considerably harder. Skalska set out to close what she saw as a major gap in the medical offer.

Her ankle module moves in the frontal plane, meaning from side to side. When a person steps on an uneven surface such as a stone, the ankle naturally tilts sideways to keep the body stable. The young researcher wanted to test whether the same kind of balance could be achieved in a prosthesis.

Light, strong materials

The design consists of four main elements, built from different materials. The sole is made of carbon fibre, valued for its stiffness, low weight and strength. Another part is made of more flexible glass fibre. The heel uses TPU, a rubber-like elastic material that returns to its original shape after bending.

The prototype passed strength tests. It was tested under loads of both 50 kg and 100 kg, and met all of the designer's assumptions.

The project was completed as an engineering thesis under the supervision of Prof. Krzysztofa Mendroka. The material provided does not say whether clinical trials or commercial production are planned.

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Tags:aghprostheticsbiomedical engineeringroboticsankle jointpoland