Cognitive measures during walking with and without lower-limb prosthesis: protocol for a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Personalized assistance for lower-limb (LL) prosthesis users is crucial for effective walking.
• Prosthesis adaptation is influenced by subjective wearer preferences and cognitive processes, not just motor performance.
• Current methods for assessing cognitive performance during walking with LL prostheses are not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and evaluate existing measures of cognitive performance in individuals walking with and without LL prostheses.
• To identify gaps and methodological considerations in current cognitive assessment protocols for prosthesis users.
• To explore potential additional measures for cognitive assessment in a walking context.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review protocol guided by CADIMA (an online data management portal).
• Comprehensive literature searches across seven databases (e.g., Web of Science, MEDLINE, PsycINFO) up to 2020, supplemented by grey literature.
• Screening of records by two independent reviewers at title-abstract and full-text levels, with evaluation for reporting bias.

Main Results:

• Data extraction will focus on sample characteristics, cognitive functions assessed, measure details, task prioritization, experimental design, and walking environments.
• Evaluation of reporting bias in selected studies.
• Synthesis of findings on the application and limitations of current cognitive measures.

Conclusions:

• This scoping review will provide a comprehensive overview of cognitive measures used in LL prosthesis research.
• Findings will inform the development of more effective cognitive assessment tools for prosthesis users.
• The results will contribute to advancing personalized LL prosthesis control and improving wearer outcomes.