Virtual Reality Prosthetics Training: Clinic and Home Use phase
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Virtual Reality Prosthetics Training: Clinic and Home Use phase
IRAS ID
269563
Contact name
Keith Fildes
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Hallam University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
STH21128, STH Number
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 26 days
Research summary
People with arm amputations or those born without arms can learn to use prosthetic limbs in which grip is controlled by electrical signals generated from muscle movements (myo-electric) in their remaining stump. However, the current NHS training protocol for these patients is costly, and boring for patients. We have previously piloted a Virtual Reality (VR) system with seven patients who wore a VR headset and sensors on their amputated arm in a mock training environment. We also carried out usability testing with a VR prosthetics training system designed to incorporate movements of everyday living and also games such as table tennis to make the training fun and engaging.
This study builds on the findings from the usability testing. When a patient has been prescribed a myo-electric prosthetic arm, and before they receive the arm (which usually takes around 2-3 weeks and has to be specially made), they will be eligible to take part in the trial.
Therapists will be shown how to set up and use the system in clinics and how to train participants to use the system. Participants will be able to take the system home for 2-3 weeks to practice before they receive their new prosthetic. We will assess participants’ ability to use the arm in VR, when they receive the real prosthetic arm, and again 3 months later.
We believe that repeated training will make it easier to learn how to have greater control of the arm, which will save time by cutting the number of clinic visits and costs while giving a better experience and making the training programme more effective. The system will collect data during the training sessions to record the degree of progress.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/YH/0420
Date of REC Opinion
3 Dec 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion