Quote:
Originally Posted by Flieger
It's more springy but it's not muscle. Muscle can provide additional energy. Springs just store energy and release most of that stored energy back (some inefficiency).
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Exactly, and that's one reason why the prosthetic leg should not be allowed. A human lower leg does not have a natural spring (compression/expansion) action, it requires an expenditure of energy and action by muscle and tendons to emulate the "bounce" of a mechanical spring. Not only does this eventually lead to fatigue but it creates a risk for injury. Though the prosthesis apparently gives no "spring" advantage in terms of amount of recoil, it does give an advantage in the area of fatigue and injury.