Perspiration Thresholds and Secure Suspension for Lower Limb Amputees in Demanding Environments

Abstract

The objective of this project is to provide active lower limb amputees who work in demanding environments with a prosthesis and suspension that remains secure despite profuse residual limb perspiration. The specific aims are to: (1) Identify the environment and perspiration thresholds at which the current standard-of-care prosthesis fails to provide a secure suspension, and (2) Compare the performance of the current standard-of-care prosthesis with an innovative prosthesis that uses dynamic air exchange to expel accumulated perspiration. Through the current reporting period, we have enrolled 10 individuals with lower limb amputation into an IRB-approved protocol to walk on a treadmill for up to 30-minutes in a chamber at 20, 30, and 35 deg C at 50% relative humidity. The cross-over experimental design randomizes the order of the study prostheses. The interim results suggest that despite greater perspiration while wearing the dynamic air exchange prosthesis, it may provide greater adherence (less slippage) in demanding conditions. Subject recruitment is on-going.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2016
Accession Number
AD1039502

Entities

People

  • Glenn K. Klute

Organizations

  • Seattle Institute for Biomedical and Clinical Research

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amputation
  • Amputees
  • Biomedical Research
  • Climate
  • Department Of Defense
  • Environment
  • Health Services
  • Institutional Review Board
  • Lower Limb Amputations
  • Lower Limb Amputees
  • Medical Personnel
  • Prostheses And Implants
  • Prosthetics
  • Residual Limbs
  • Standards
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Surgical Amputations

Readers

  • Clinical Trial Research.
  • Exercise and Sports Science.
  • Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Care for Military Service Members and Veterans with Limb Loss or Disability.