Epema, U. (Uti) (2010) Natural learning processes while learning to use a body-powered voluntary closing prosthesis simulator. thesis, Human Movement Sciences.
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Abstract
Background: People with an upper extremity amputation often choose to have a prosthesis fitted to restore the functionality as good as possible. Despite many improvements, rejection rates of prosthetic devices are still very high due to a low degree of functional use. The functional use can be enhanced by training. Information about the learning processes is required to develop a good training program for people learning to use a body-powered prosthesis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to get insight into the natural learning processes that take place while learning to use an upper-extremity prosthesis. Therefore, able-bodied participants grasped and manipulated objects that differed in the extent to which they were deformable using an upper extremity, bodypowered prosthesis simulator. This simulator was equipped with a voluntary closing gripper. Methods: Reaching to and grasping movements from eight healthy participants using a body-powered voluntary closing prosthesis simulator were analyzed during five practice sessions. Direct (i.e., grasping an object with a gripper) and indirect (i.e., handing over an object from the natural hand to the gripper) grasping tasks while grasping deformable and non-deformable objects were investigated. The various deformable objects had different resistances for deformation. The functionality of prosthetic use was measured before and after practice. Analyses were performed on the functionality measured and kinematics of the grasping performance. Results: The level of functionality was improved for all grasping tasks directly after and three months after practice. Moreover, almost all kinematic variables showed some improvement during the practice sessions. Deformations of the easily and moderately deformable objects were greater for the indirect grasping group, while the deformation of the difficultly deformable object was greater for the direct grasping group. For the easily deformable object, the movement times and the object deformation were greater, and the grip force was the least, whereas for the difficultly deformable object, this situation was the inverse. Conclusion: The use of a body-powered voluntary closing prosthesis simulator can improve when practicing direct and indirect grasping tasks. This way, the functionality of the simulator prosthesis was enhanced.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Thesis) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Bongers, R.M. PhD and Bouwsema, H. MSc |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Jun 2020 10:46 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Jun 2020 10:47 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/795 |
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