Walking Is More Complicated Than You Think with Dr. Steven Gard

The Prosthetics and Orthotics Podcast

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What if everything we think we know about human walking is oversimplified?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Steven Gard a biomedical engineer and leading gait researcher. We unpack the real biomechanics behind prosthetic design. From artificial heart labs to O&P innovation, Dr. Gard shares surprising insights on:

• Why shock absorption and “energy return” don’t always behave the way prosthetic marketing suggests
• How soft tissue acts as a natural spring, changing everything about how force is transmitted through a limb
• The ongoing debate between ischial containment, subischial, and elevated vacuum sockets — and why no design is one-size-fits-all
• Where microprocessor knees and 3D printing fit into the future of mobility
• The missing link between engineering theory and clinical practice

Whether you’re a clinician, researcher, or just prosthetics-curious — this episode reframes gait in a way you’ve never heard before.

Special thanks to Advanced 3D for sponsoring this episode.

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1. Welcome & Host Banter (00:00:00)

2. Introducing Dr. Steven Gard (00:02:15)

3. Path into O&P and Early Research (00:04:03)

4. Engineering vs Clinical Focus in O&P (00:07:20)

5. Teaching Engineering Concepts to MPO Students (00:10:56)

6. Why Human Gait Is Hard to Explain (00:13:08)

7. Practical Gait Insights for Clinicians (00:16:43)

8. Shock-Absorbing Pylons: Findings & Models (00:19:33)

9. Data Logging and Real-World Measurement (00:24:06)

10. 3D Printing: Promise and Limits (00:26:12)

11. Flexible, Selectively Compliant Sockets (00:29:47)

12. Microprocessor Ankles and Hidden Shock Gains (00:33:04)

13. O&P Education: Master’s, Research, and Gaps (00:35:20)

14. Market Consolidation and Training Implications (00:39:10)

15. Big Shifts: From C-Leg Skepticism to Adoption (00:41:03)

16. Subischial vs Ischial Containment: Stability & Comfort (00:44:35)

17. From Certificates to Master’s to Potential DPO (00:48:16)

18. Closing Thoughts & Next Steps (00:56:30)