Functional comparison of upper extremity amputees using myoelectric and conventional prostheses

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Upper extremity amputees face challenges in daily living and task performance.
• Conventional cable-controlled prostheses offer functional but limited range of motion.
• Myoelectric prostheses represent a technological advancement in upper limb replacement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the performance and user acceptance of myoelectric hands versus conventional prostheses.
• To evaluate functional range of motion and task completion times for different upper extremity prostheses.
• To assess amputee preferences regarding prosthetic type, considering function, ROM, and aesthetics.

Main Methods:

• Testing upper extremity amputees on standardized tasks using normal hands, conventional hooks, and myoelectric hands.
• Administering questionnaires on activities of daily living (ADL) and prosthetic usage patterns.
• Analyzing task completion times and functional range of motion (ROM) across different prosthetic types.

Main Results:

• Myoelectric prostheses offer greater functional ROM but result in significantly longer task completion times (5x normal hand) compared to conventional prostheses (2.5x normal hand).
• Conventional prosthesis users wore their devices longer daily (14 hours) than myoelectric users (9.6 hours).
• Over 60% of below-elbow amputees preferred myoelectric prostheses over previously fitted conventional ones, citing combined function, ROM, and cosmetic benefits.

Conclusions:

• Despite slower performance, the improved function, ROM, and cosmetic appearance lead to high acceptance rates for myoelectric prostheses among below-elbow amputees.
• User preference is driven by a holistic assessment of prosthetic capabilities, not solely by speed.
• Myoelectric technology shows significant promise for enhancing the quality of life for upper extremity amputees.