Dynamic Corrective Force Device: A Balance Measure for Amputees
Abstract
Loss of balance is a significant problem for those who have undergone lower-limb (LL) amputations. Approximately 52.4% of lower extremity amputees have reported falling in the previous year and 66% of above-knee amputees report falling annually, which is twice the rate of able-bodied adults over the age of 65. Falling and fear of falling have a multitude of detrimental consequences including loss of independence, functional deficits or disability, and reduced quality of life, as well as result in the lack of confidence in, and often the discontinued use of, a particular prosthesis. In addition to the young, traumatic amputees of the active military, especially those with compounding effects on balance from traumatic brain injury, balance impairment is also a significant issue for older amputees, including those in the Department of Veteran s Affairs (VA). The sense of balance changes with age and older LL amputees may require modifications to their prosthesis to maintain stability and avoid falls. Given the incidence of loss of balance in the military and Veteran amputee population, it is important to select the most appropriate components for each prosthetic device to optimize balance. Our approach entails using existing sensor technologies in a unique way to develop a body worn sensor system to quantitatively assess balance during standing and walking. The proposed system would provide a means to obtain quantitative outcome measures, which allow the clinician to provide the patient with prosthetic components that optimize the trade-off between stability and dynamic function ultimately improving the patient s balance and confidence in the prosthesis. Outcome measures to objectively determine balance would positively benefit a wide range of military amputees, from the new active military amputee to the older Veteran who is experiencing balance loss due to aging or advancing peripheral neuropathy, as well as their counterparts in the general public. Outcome measures that address falling and fear of falling can assure the amputee that he/she has appropriate components to achieve maximum function with minimum loss of balance may benefit the amputee beyond the physical component choice, and extend to increasing confidence and quality of life with a prosthesis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 04, 2016
- Source ID
- W81XWH1510542
Entities
People
- Jennifer Johansson
Organizations
- Liberating Technologies (United States)
- United States Army