Impacts of skill, uncertainties and delays on prosthesis functionality
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The reality of myoelectric prostheses: Understanding the impact of skill, uncertainties and delays on the control of myoelectric prostheses
IRAS ID
193794
Contact name
Alixandra E A Chadwell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Salford
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 15 days
Research summary
This project involves upper limb users of myoelectric prostheses. Myoelectric prostheses are active devices operated using the electrical (EMG/Myoelectric) signals generated when muscles contract. This project concentrates on users of forearm prostheses which are controlled using one or both of the wrist flexor and wrist extensor muscles in the residual limb. EMG signals are collected using surface electrodes and analysed to determine the speed and direction of the motors in the hand.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of various factors in the myoelectric prosthesis control chain on overall upper limb prosthesis user functionality when using his/her prosthesis. Well-established outcome measures will be used to evaluate functionality, including task duration, movement variability, gaze fixation and hand aperture plateau time.
Additionally participants will be asked to undertake a week of activity monitoring (small watch sized sensors will be worn on each wrist) to provide an understanding of everyday prosthesis use. This is the first study to report such data.
Based on the outcome of a literature review, a number of factors which may influence user functionality have been identified. These are user skill in controlling the muscle signal, and delays and uncertainties introduced in the prosthesis control chain. Each of these factors will be assessed using a series of reaction time tests and clinical assessment tools.
To establish the most important contributor to user functionality a group of trans-radial myoelectric prosthesis users will be recruited and assessed in a single session at their local prosthetics centre, or at the University. They will subsequently be invited to wear the wrist worn monitors for 1 week and return them to the researcher at the end of the period.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/WM/0391
Date of REC Opinion
25 Aug 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion