Leg amputees wanted for improvement study

Published On Thu 29 Jun 2017 by Cara Longmuir

People who have had a leg amputated or have a birth defect and use a prosthetic fitting are being encouraged to take part in a University of Dundee study that aims to improve the lives of patients.

Giulia Zedda, a PhD student in the Institute of Motion Analysis and Research in the University Medical School, is looking for people with a prosthetic leg fitting under the knee who are able to walk unaided.

Her study will examine whether patients are using the best prosthesis to aid them.

Using special software that can check if the prosthesis is fitted correctly, the study will focus on the distribution of force during everyday activity. This could lead to adjustments to the prosthetic that will improve the overall comfort of the patient.

Giulia said, “The prosthetic fitting is one of the most important processes in the treatment of limb loss.

“The purpose of this study is to provide more information about how the prosthetic works for the patient in both stationary and moving states.

“The results of this project will provide useful information to clinicians and amputees during prosthetic fitting in clinical practice and for better physiotherapy rehabilitation.”

Participants only need to commit to one hour for testing. They will be asked to walk 10 metres using their normal walking speed, which will be repeated six times over the course of their session.

For more information, or to volunteer for the study, contact g.zedda@dundee.ac.uk

For media enquiries contact:
Cara Longmuir
Media Relations Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 385243
Email: c.z.longmuir@dundee.ac.uk