A New Temporary Training Prosthesis for People With Transtibial Amputation: a Technical Note.

Background: While waiting to receive a prosthesis, individuals with amputations could benefit from using a temporary training prosthesis to expedite the rehabilitation process and prepare them for subsequent walking with their prosthesis.

Objectives: To design and build a temporary training prosthesis for people with a transtibial amputation.

Methodology: Various temporary training prostheses were designed and simulated using SolidWorks software, followed by fabricating and testing multiple prototypes.

A pelvic kinematic approach for calculating hip angles for active hip disarticulation prosthesis control.

Background: Control system design for a microprocessor-controlled hip-knee-ankle-foot (HKAF) prosthesis is a challenge since hip disarticulation amputees lack the entire leg and, therefore, only have pelvis movement as user-guided input. This research proposes a method for determining hip joint angles from pelvis movement in a control system for the next generation of powered prostheses.

Method: Three-dimensional pelvic motion and stance time of 10 transfemoral (TF) prosthetic users were used to identify important features and to develop an algorithm to calculate hip angles from pelvis movement based on correlation and linear regression results.

A Novel Quick Release Mechanism for Ankle Foot Orthosis Struts.

Background: A posterior dynamic element ankle-foot orthosis (PDEAFO) uses a stiff carbon fibre strut to store and release energy during various mobility tasks, with the strut securely attached to the foot and shank-cuff sections. A design that allows the user to swap struts for specific activities could improve mobility by varying PDEAFO stiffness, but current approaches where bolts securely connect the strut to the orthosis make quick strut swapping time-consuming and impractical.

Objectives: Design a novel quick release AFO (QRAFO) that can enable daily living strut-swapping and thereby enable better ankle biomechanics for the person's chosen activity.

Cross slope gait biomechanics for individuals with and without a unilateral transtibial amputation.

Background: This research was conducted to better understand compensatory strategies during cross-slope walking for adults with and without a unilateral transtibial amputation.

Methods: Fourteen individuals with unilateral transtibial amputation and 14 individuals with no lower limb amputation participated in this study. Motion and force data were captured while participants walked on a treadmill in a virtual reality environment for level and ± 5° cross slopes.

Prediction of Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease Using Unilateral and Bilateral Plantar-Pressure Data.

Background: Freezing of gait (FOG) is an intermittent walking disturbance experienced by people with Parkinson's disease (PD). FOG has been linked to falling, injury, and overall reduced mobility. Wearable sensor-based devices can detect freezes already in progress and provide a cue to help the person resume walking.

Effects of Unity Prosthetic Elevated Vacuum Suspension System on Minimum Swing Toe Clearance.

Background: The risk of tripping in people with amputation is greater than that of able-bodied individuals due to reduced toe clearance during the swing phase. Appropriate prosthetic suspension may increase toe clearance by providing more secured attachment between the residual limb and prosthetic socket. Research is lacking on the Unity suspension system's effect on swing toe clearance.

Hip disarticulation and hemipelvectomy prostheses: A review of the literature.

Background: Although the global population of people with a hip disarticulation (HD) or hemipelvectomy (HP) amputation is small, the degree of disability is high, affecting function and independence. A comprehensive literature review is needed to examine the evidence for prostheses in these amputation levels.

Method: A scoping literature review was conducted to examine related research documents from 1950 to September 2020, found using Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases.

Mechanical Evaluation Of Unity Elevated Vacuum Suspension System.

Background: Small residual limb-socket displacement is a good indicator of prosthetic suspension system quality. Active vacuum suspension systems can decrease vertical movement inside the socket, compared to non-active suction systems. This study mechanically evaluated limb-socket displacement with the Össur Unity active vacuum system.

The effect of various arm and walking conditions on postural dynamic stability when recovering from a trip perturbation.

Background: Appropriately responding to unexpected perturbations, such as a trip, is critical to sustain balance and avoid falling during walking.

Research Question: How do arm motion and walking asymmetry affect postural stability when recovering from a trip perturbation?

Methods: Fifteen healthy young individuals, who had no experience with treadmill induced perturbations, participated in this study. The Computer-Assisted Rehabilitation Environment system (CAREN-Extended) was used to simulate unexpected perturbations while walking symmetrically and asymmetrically with various arm swings (normal, bound, released).

Effect of arm motion on postural stability when recovering from a slip perturbation.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of various arm swing on postural stability and recovery responses to an unexpected slip during treadmill walking. Fifteen healthy young adults (23.4 ± 2.

Transtibial amputee gait with the unity suspension system.

Experimental study. Research is lacking on the Unity suspension system's effect on gait performance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the Unity elevated vacuum system on level walking performance while the vacuum was active (ON) and inactive (OFF).

Transtibial amputee gait during slope walking with the unity suspension system.

Background: People with lower limb amputation may experience walking limitations on slopes because of missing musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems. Elevated vacuum suspension could benefit transtibial amputee gait for slope walking, but research is lacking to inform clinical practice.

Methods: Twelve people with unilateral transtibial amputation were fitted with the Unity elevated vacuum suspension system (Össur) and Pro-Flex XC foot.

Lessons learnt on the meaning of involvement and co-creation in developing community-based rehabilitation.

To describe and analyse social interactions among the users, partners and stakeholders involved in developing a rehabilitation park to determine a future approach to community-based rehabilitation. The design was qualitative using the methodology interpretive description and symbolic interactionism as the theoretical framework. Data was generated through a two-year ethnographic fieldwork throughout the development of the SPARK (Sound Park Activities Rehabilitation and Climate) rehabilitation park.

Effects of the unity vacuum suspension system on transtibial gait for simulated non-level surfaces.

Walking on various surfaces encountered in everyday life requires lower limb prosthesis users to continually adapt their movement patterns. Elevated vacuum suspension systems could improve transtibial amputee gait on non-level surfaces; however, research is lacking to guide clinical practice. Twelve transtibial amputees were fitted with the Össur sleeveless vacuum suspension system (Unity).

Dual-Task Elderly Gait of Prospective Fallers and Non-Fallers: A Wearable-Sensor Based Analysis.

Wearable sensors could facilitate point of care, clinically feasible assessments of dynamic stability and associated fall risk through an assessment of single-task (ST) and dual-task (DT) walking. This study investigated gait changes between ST and DT walking and between older adult prospective fallers and non-fallers. The results were compared to a study based on retrospective fall occurrence.

Clinical evaluation of a prosthetic suspension system: Looped silicone liner.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate and compare a newly designed suspension system with a common suspension in the market.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Methods: Looped liners with hook fastener and Iceross Dermo Liner with pin/lock system were mechanically tested using a tensile testing machine in terms of system safety.

Faller Classification in Older Adults Using Wearable Sensors Based on Turn and Straight-Walking Accelerometer-Based Features.

Faller classification in elderly populations can facilitate preventative care before a fall occurs. A novel wearable-sensor based faller classification method for the elderly was developed using accelerometer-based features from straight walking and turns. Seventy-six older individuals (74.

Implementing augmentative and alternative communication in critical care settings: Perspectives of healthcare professionals.

Aims And Objectives: To describe the perspectives of healthcare professionals caring for intubated patients on implementing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in critical care settings.

Background: Patients in critical care settings subjected to endotracheal intubation suffer from a temporary functional speech disorder and can also experience anxiety, stress and delirium, leading to longer and more complicated hospitalisation and rehabilitation. Little is known about the use of AAC in critical care settings.

Elderly fall risk prediction using static posturography.

Maintaining and controlling postural balance is important for activities of daily living, with poor postural balance being predictive of future falls. This study investigated eyes open and eyes closed standing posturography with elderly adults to identify differences and determine appropriate outcome measure cut-off scores for prospective faller, single-faller, multi-faller, and non-faller classifications. 100 older adults (75.

Prosthesis donning and doffing questionnaire: Development and validation.

Objectives: To develop a questionnaire that specifically evaluates the ability of trans-tibial amputees to don and doff a prosthesis and to investigate the psychometric properties of the newly developed questionnaire.

Background: Prosthesis should be donned and doffed few times during the day and night; thus, it is important to measure ease of donning and doffing.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.

The evidence-base for elevated vacuum in lower limb prosthetics: Literature review and professional feedback.

Background: An optimal suspension system can improve comfort and quality of life in people with limb loss. To guide practice on prosthetic vacuum suspension systems, assessment of the current evidence and professional opinion are required.

Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were explored to find related articles.

Changes to transtibial amputee gait with a weighted backpack on multiple surfaces.

Background: Modern prosthetic technology and rehabilitation practices have enabled people with lower extremity amputations to participate in almost all occupations and physical activities. Carrying backpack loads can be an essential component for many of these jobs and activities; however, amputee gait with backpack loads is poorly understood. This knowledge gap must be addressed in order to further improve an individual's quality of living through changes in rehabilitation programs and prosthesis development.

Changes to level ground transtibial amputee gait with a weighted backpack.

Background: Many occupations and hobbies require the use of a weighted pack. To date there has been limited backpack gait studies performed on the amputee population. It is important that we address this knowledge gap in order to further improve individual's quality of living through changes in rehabilitation, and prosthesis development.

Participation in community and political life of persons with severe disabilities.

Participation as a citizen, that is, engaging in social, political, and governmental life, has been rarely seen as an important domain when studying social participation of disabled persons. The purpose of this study was to depict the participation in community and political life of persons with severe or multiple disabilities and to determine which individual and social factors were associated with their participation. Altogether, 818 persons, who had participated in rehabilitation for persons with severe disabilities, answered the questionnaire survey.