Emilia Swierzb
Pronouns: She/Her
Research Mentor(s): Deanna Gates
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Movement Science / Kinesiology
Program: UROPF
Session: Session 3 (11:00am – 11:50am)
Authors: Deanna Gates, Emilia Swierzb
Abstract
Discomfort resulting from prosthetic devices is an ongoing challenge for many amputees. Much of this stems from the socket, which is the interface between the body and the device itself. A traditional socket is generally custom-fit by creating a positive mold of the residual limb which is then laminated using stiff plastic and silicone materials, such as thermoplastics. An ill-fitted socket can result in not only discomfort, but also reduced mobility, back pain, poor balance, and lowered walking endurance. This poses a threat to both the patient’s safety and quality of life. Even with prosthetists’ efforts, changes in limb volume throughout the day can make the stiff traditional socket a challenge, often requiring prosthetic socks to be added or removed to maintain a proper fit. Therefore, this project aims to examine the effectiveness of various adjustable sockets currently in the market in transfemoral prosthetics, which can be adjusted manually throughout the day, including Infinite Socketsâ„¢, Quatroâ„¢, and CJ Socketsâ„¢. Being relatively new, little research has been done on adjustable socket systems up to this point. Patients have a chance to try each socket, reporting their comfort levels and concerns, which are entered into a secure database. They must also complete various functional assessments, which are used to examine quantitative differences between sockets. Although the study is ongoing, the hope is to examine the benefits of the adjustable sockets to help inform clinical decision making and improve the quality of life for transfemoral prosthesis users.
