Myoelectric prosthesis users and non-disabled individuals wearing a simulated prosthesis exhibit similar compensatory movement strategies.
Heather E Williams, Craig S Chapman, Patrick M Pilarski and 2 others
PMID 33933105WHAT IT FOUND
People wearing a simulated prosthetic hand moved their arms and bodies in ways that closely matched those of real prosthesis users.
Both groups moved more slowly and used more trunk and shoulder motion than people with typical arm function.
Key findings
01Simulated prosthesis users and real myoelectric prosthesis users exhibited similar compensatory movement strategies, including slower task completion and increased trunk and shoulder motion compared to non-disabled individuals.
02The movement patterns of simulated prosthesis users most closely resembled those of mid-skilled real prosthesis users.
03Both simulated and real prosthesis users showed significant deviations from normative movement patterns, such as prolonged grasp and release phases and earlier hand velocity peaks.
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
Only three real prosthesis users were included, limiting generalizability. Simulated users had only two hours of training, which may not reflect the experience of long-term users. The study used one specific simulated prosthesis design and one task, so findings may not apply to other devices or activities. Real users had varying levels of skill and experience, which influenced their movement patterns.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Canadian Network for Research and Innovation in Machining Technology. No conflicts of interest were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a person wearing a simulated prosthesis will move exactly like a highly skilled real prosthesis user. The study found that simulated users most closely resembled mid-skilled real users, and their movements were influenced by limited training time.