A laboratory based functional assessment course for amputees (v1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A laboratory based functional assessment (obstacle) course for amputees and assessment of in-use repeatability of heart rate based energy expenditure indices
IRAS ID
131408
Contact name
Graeme Taylor
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Research summary
Effective evaluation of advanced prosthetic componentry for transtibial and transfemoral amputees (e.g. microprocessor-controlled feet and knees) often requires more challenging environments than are conventionally found in gait laboratories. Use of environments available elsewhere, both indoors and outdoors, is an option, but the test conditions may not always be consistent, e.g. due to changes in availability and weather.
An indoor functional obstacle course is being developed in the Gait Laboratory at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton. The obstacles were selected following a literature search and consultation with experienced physiotherapists, and aim to expose subjects to a range of challenging environments that can be encountered in everyday life.
To assess the in-use repeatability of the collected outcome measures, 25 lower limb amputee volunteers will be sought from the patient cohort at Queen Mary’s Hospital. Additionally, 13 able-bodied subjects will be recruited to create a reference non amputee database. All subjects will participate in two data collection sessions. Each session will involve walking on the obstacle course for around 5 minutes. The average time taken to complete one lap of the obstacle course will be the first outcome measure. Physical effort required for walking, estimated using the heart rate based energy expenditure indices, will be the second outcome measure. Repeatability will be assessed by comparing the obtained outcome measures between two sessions, approximately 1 week apart.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1219
Date of REC Opinion
3 Sep 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion