Structured training of children fitted with myoelectric prostheses

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Pediatric Occupational Therapy
• Prosthetics and Orthotics

Background:

• Children with myoelectric prostheses require specialized occupational therapy to maximize functional use.
• Assessing and progressing training for pediatric prosthetic users presents unique challenges for therapists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel occupational therapy method for training children with myoelectric prostheses.
• To present the Skill Index Ranking Scale (SIRS) as a tool for structuring and documenting training.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Skill Index Ranking Scale (SIRS) for assessing pediatric myoelectric prosthesis users.
• Application of SIRS in designing progressive occupational therapy training sessions.
• Utilizing SIRS for documentation and communication of a child's abilities with their prosthesis.

Main Results:

• The SIRS provides a structured framework for therapists to systematically increase training demands.
• SIRS facilitates objective documentation of a child's functional capabilities with their myoelectric prosthesis.
• Improved communication regarding a child's progress and abilities among healthcare professionals and caregivers.

Conclusions:

• The Skill Index Ranking Scale (SIRS) is an effective occupational therapy tool for pediatric myoelectric prosthesis training.
• SIRS enables therapists to create individualized, progressive training programs.
• The scale enhances the documentation and communication of functional outcomes in pediatric prosthetic rehabilitation.