Research project: Instrumented Stump Sock for Measuring Pressure at the Stump/Sock Interface
The objective of this project was to measure interface pressures between the socket and stump during everyday functional activities.
The objective of this project was to measure interface pressures between the socket and stump during everyday functional activities.
Due to improvements in military trauma management, combat fatalities are fortunately less common. However, there has been a notable increase in the number of military personnel surviving trauma with serious injuries, such as amputation of one or more limbs. Consequently, this increase in personnel with specific rehabilitation requirements has prompted rigorous investigation into improvements for prosthetic socket prescription and skin health management. Optimising the fit of prosthetic sockets can help reduce potential issues surrounding skin health, such as excessive sites of pressure and shear forces, which can result in ulceration.
This project has resulted in a comprehensive biomechanical study of a bilateral transfemoral amputee that included 3D movement analysis, muscle activity, ground reaction forces and pressure at the socket/stump interface. All these data were collected bilaterally and during walking tasks, sit-to-stand, the timed up and go test, and step up/step down.
Dr Ann-Marie Hughes, Katrina Butler (Senior Research Assistant)
Dr John Tudor – Principal Research Fellow – Faculty of Physical & Applied Sciences
Dr Russel Torah – Senior Research Fellow - Faculty of Physical & Applied Sciences
Ivo Alaya – Research Assistant - Faculty of Physical & Applied Sciences
Ministry of Defense – Centre for Defense Enterprise