ISO 29781:2008

Prostheses and orthoses - Factors to be included when describing physical activity of a person who has had a lower limb amputation(s) or who has a deficiency of a lower limb segment(s) present at birth

ISO 29781:2008 describes the factors to be included when describing the physical activity of a person who has had a lower limb amputation(s) or who has a deficiency of a lower limb segment(s) present at birth.

Prothèses et orthèses — Points à inclure lors de descriptif d'activité physique d'une personne ayant subi une amputation d'un membre inférieur ou qui a une malformation congénitale d'un segment de membre inférieur

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 16-Nov-2008
• ICS: 11.040.40 - Implants for surgery, prosthetics and orthotics
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 168 - Prosthetics and orthotics
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 168 - Prosthetics and orthotics
• Current Stage: 9060 - Close of review
• Completion Date: 04-Jun-2029

Overview - ISO 29781:2008 (Prostheses and orthoses)

ISO 29781:2008 defines the minimum factors to include when describing the physical activity of a person with a lower‑limb amputation or a congenital deficiency of a lower‑limb segment. The standard provides a consistent international nomenclature for recording mobility and daily‑living performance with and without prostheses or orthoses. It is intended to help clinical teams, researchers and manufacturers compare assessments and evaluate treatment outcomes.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and purpose
  • Specifies the factors to be recorded when describing physical activity of persons with lower‑limb loss or deficiency.
• Terms and definitions
  • Standardized terms such as assisted, independently, assistive device, and wheelchair types (manual, electrically powered).
• Transfer and mobility (with and without prosthesis)
  • Core activities to document: don/doff prosthesis, transfers (bed ↔ chair/wheelchair), wheelchair use (manual/electric/assisted), rise from sitting, stand, rise from floor, ambulation patterns (swing to/swing through, hop), and walking (specify distance in given time).
  • Always state whether activities are assisted or independent, and list any assistive devices used.
• Surfaces and obstacles
  • Record negotiable indoor and outdoor surfaces (even/uneven, thresholds, steps, ramps, slopes, any terrain) and whether negotiated with or without prosthesis.
• Activities of daily life (ADL)
  • Document routine activities: toileting, bathing, dressing, driving, housework, cooking, occupational and recreational activities, and cultural tasks (e.g., kneel, squat, sit cross‑legged).
• Prosthetic wearing and usage time
  • Record prosthesis wear time in days/week and hours/day and specify hours used for standing, ambulation and ADLs.

Practical applications and users

• Who uses ISO 29781:2008:
  • Prosthetists, orthotists, rehabilitation clinicians and multidisciplinary clinic teams
  • Researchers and outcome‑measure analysts comparing mobility data across studies
  • Medical device manufacturers documenting user functional profiles
  • Insurers and health services for consistent reporting and claims evaluation
• Typical applications:
  • Standardized mobility assessments and patient records
  • Prosthetic prescription and fitting decisions
  • Rehabilitation planning and progress tracking
  • Comparative research, audits and multicenter data aggregation

Related standards

• ISO 7176‑26:2007 - referenced for wheelchair vocabulary and definitions.

ISO 29781:2008 supports consistent, comparable documentation of mobility and prosthetic use, improving clinical decision‑making, data quality and communication across international rehabilitation and prosthetics communities.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 29781
First edition
2008-12-01
Prostheses and orthoses — Factors to be
included when describing physical
activity of a person who has had a lower
limb amputation(s) or who has a
deficiency of a lower limb segment(s)
present at birth
Prothèses et orthèses — Points à inclure lors de descriptif d'activité
physique d'une personne ayant subi une amputation d'un membre
inférieur ou qui a une malformation congénitale d'un segment de
membre inférieur
Reference number
©
ISO 2008
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Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
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International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
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International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 29781 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 168, Prosthetics and orthotics.

Introduction
The activity of a person with an absent or deficient lower limb segment may be described in many ways. The
various members of clinic teams in different countries develop their own nomenclature to record this
information. Hence there is a need for an international system to allow comparisons to be made. The system
described is designed to meet the needs of a clinic team in assessing a person and evaluating their treatment.
This International Standard indicates the minimum information concerning a person’s activity, which is to be
included in any description.
iv © ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 29781:2008(E)

Prostheses and orthoses — F
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