A Pilot Study Testing a Novel 3D Printed Amphibious Lower Limb Prosthesis in a Recreational Pool Setting.
Todd Goldstein, Anthony Oreste, Glenn Hutnick and 5 others
PMID 31749329WHAT IT FOUND
Ten adults with below-knee amputations found a new 3D-printed swim prosthesis easy to use and preferred it over a standard swim ankle.
They exited the pool faster with the new device, but swimming speed and heart rate changes were similar.
Key findings
01Participants exited the pool via both ladder and ramp significantly faster when using the novel 3D printed amphibious prosthesis compared to the standard Swim Ankle.
02Most participants reported the novel prosthesis felt appropriate in weight, was comfortable, and required little energy to use, leading to higher overall satisfaction than the Swim Ankle.
03There was no significant difference in the time to swim a 25-meter lap or in changes to heart rate and oxygen saturation between the two prostheses.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was a small pilot with only ten participants and no control group, limiting the generalizability of the findings. Participants used the novel prosthesis for the first time on the study day, so experiences may change with repeated use. The study did not collect data on the cause of amputation or baseline functional mobility levels. The trial was unblinded, and some aspects of the study, such as survey collection, could have been influenced by participant expectations.
Declared interests
The device was created by Northwell Health. The text notes it was supported by non-U.S. government funding but does not list specific author conflicts of interest or declare if the institution selling the device influenced the study design or analysis.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the new prosthesis improves swimming speed or reduces physical exertion. The study found no significant difference in lap times or heart rate changes compared to the standard swim ankle, and the faster exit times were the only significant objective difference.