Re: Research in P&O: Are we addressing clinically-relevant problems?

Re: Research in P&O: Are we addressing clinically-relevant problems?

Benveniste, David Mark

11/22/2005

Dr Gard and Dr Fantone,

I certainly appreciate the effort expressed in your post and I am glad
that those capable of obtaining research dollars, and have engineering
expertise as well as gait lab knowledge and access, have opened a
channel to prosthetists and orthotists in the field.
I think it is long overdue but I am delighted you have initiated the
forum and survey.

I have filled out the survey and look forward to following and
contributing to the forum that you and your staff have created.

I left out a few ideas on your survey that I wanted to add, but I also
wanted this discussion to continue on this list as well.
I definitely like your idea of a forum. I had hoped that this list could
and would act as that forum. It would do a lot to increase the
multidisciplinary approach of the field as well as stimulating new ideas
in the field

More ideas...
1)I would like to see research done on the importance of active
dorsiflexion (and passive plantarflexion) in AK amputees.

2)On an engineering front, I would like to see new knees developed that
include Hydracadence type dynamics (active dorsiflexion and
plantarflexion). If not linked directly to the knee, then feet-ankles
that can function with appropriate dorsiflexion and plantarflexion.

I would like to see a low cost, developing country version, and
higher tech versions that incorporate some of the newer features
of more modern knees as well.

Also, I would like to see these things developed
3) a smaller lighter version of the Mauch-CaTech SNS unit to be used in
4 bar and well as single axis knees.

4) A system developed that is similar but improves upon the ICRC system
of LOW COST prosthetic components (endo skeletal)and that can be used by
anyone and not just according to the Charter of the ICRC.

5) An accurate non contact, lower cost laser digitizer for negative
casts and positive models that can use existing software systems

6) a material developed that can be used in carvers but has the
capability of being recycled locally to create new blanks.
   If for nothing else than developing country use
  (if in fact developing countries can use this technology vs. teaching
people to cast well)

7) Scientific research to determine the efficacy of the purported
benefits of magnets and RF shielding for reducing phantom pain. If
nerves are, in fact, affected by RF, wouldn't the brain be affected?
Would helmets with wire mesh be good for something.(I have my doubts
about these things, but research would be good. Maybe this is in the
realm of neurological research?) In the meantime, if it is a placebo
effect, that too is useful.

8) Maybe it is already very clear to some, but I think some of the
things we try to scientifically measure can only be measure
subjectively. I think this is valid information but of course it is
subject to controversy. Inability to quantify subjective experience may
be because we are either measuring the wrong thing or it can't be
measured. Can we somehow give more credibility to the subjective
experience?

 I recognize that some of the above are significant technical
challenges.
I know that dynamic ankles have been attempted in the past but I am
hoping that different minds and newer materials might be more
successful.

By the way, where and when is the State of the Science conference going
to be held and who is invited?

Thank you again for your efforts.

Mark Benveniste RN BS CP
MEDVA Medical Center
Houston, TX
USA

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Orthotics and Prosthetics List [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>] On
Behalf Of Stefania Fatone
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2005 4:51 PM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: [OANDP-L] Research in P&O: Are we addressing
clinically-relevant problems?

Dear Colleagues,

The Northwestern University Prosthetics Research Laboratory (NUPRL) &
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Program (RERP) wants to know what
you think about the current status of P&O research, and where you
believe that research efforts need to be directed in the future. We
would like to solicit opinion regarding research needs in P&O from those
involved in the P&O field (prosthetists, orthotists, technicians, P&O
users, researchers,
therapists) via an online survey and forum. You can choose to
participate in both or only one of these activities.

The survey is brief and will only take a short amount of time to
complete.
It can be found at:
<URL Redacted>
The survey must be completed by December 30, 2005.

The forum provides for ongoing discussion, so please feel free to check
in frequently to contribute to ongoing dialogue or to create a new
discussion.
The link to the forum is:
<URL Redacted>
To participate in the forum, you will need to register. The forum will
run from November 21, 2005 to January 15, 2006.

We will hold a State of the Science (SOS) Conference early next year to
assess the current state of P&O research and to identify
clinically-relevant topics that should be the focus of research
endeavors over the next 5-10 years. We will also be presenting a
symposium during next year's AAOP annual meeting (March 1-4, 2006 in
Chicago) to disseminate the key recommendations from our SOS Conference,
survey and forum, and we will open the floor to public opinion at that
time.

We appreciate your time and effort in assisting us with this endeavor.

Sincerely,
Steven Gard, PhD
Director, NUPRL & RERP

Stefania Fatone, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
NUPRL & RERP

P.S.-Please feel free to forward this email message to colleagues who
you think would be interested in contributing.