サハラ南部のフランス語圏トーゴにおける義肢装具教育の課題

EC Orthopaedics. 2017, 6(6), 230-237.博士(保健学)新潟医療福祉大

Current position and challenges in prosthetics and orthotics education in Ghana

There are limited publications concerning rehabilitation services in the sub-Saharan African countries. Therefore, identifying and understanding the challenges in prosthetics and orthotics (P&O) practice and education is very important. A survey was carried out in Ghana to identify the current situation in the field of prosthetics and orthotics. Thirteen technicians and seven students responded to the questionnaire. The results showed that prosthetics and orthotics face many challenges, mainly related to the lack of trained professionals, lack of infrastructure, lack of materials and machines including motions analysis devices for outcome measurements for the devices provided. Educational and technical reforms need to be established for effective services. Furthermore, an understanding of the current position and challenges in P&O in Ghana can contribute to the development of strategies for a sustainable rehabilitation service expansion in the African sub region

Japanese undergraduate students’ perceptions of prosthetics and orthotics education

Only a few universities and colleges offer prosthetics and orthotics education worldwide. As of 2017, World Health Organization and the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics have established the standard of the prosthetics and orthotics profession. Investigating the status of the prosthetics and orthotics education in one of the high-income countries in the world will highlight an insight of the profession. This study reports on the current status of prosthetics and orthotics education on the undergraduate level in Japan. A survey was conducted among the universities and colleges offering prosthetics and orthotics programs in Japan. A total of 136 students with mean age of 21 years from 6 schools responded to the survey. Of the total number of the respondents 50 (37%) were freshmen, 41 (30%) sophomores, 23 (17%) juniors and 22 (16%) seniors. The results highlighted some difficulties mainly related to biomechanics course, upper and lower limbs prosthetic manufacturing. Understanding an update of the prosthetics and orthotics education programs in the developed countries enables some clues for strategic planning to develop teaching methods that improve the professional skills of the students

Development of new methods to calibrate centre of pressure obtained from force platform

Kinetics and kinematics data are measured using force platforms and three-dimensional cameras in the gait analysis laboratory. Reducing errors related to the force platform when collecting data was necessary. This study describes a new calibration method for centre of pressure of laboratory force platforms using a sandal with extended bar. Firstly, a subject was asked to put his weight vertically on various places of the force platforms using the sandal to create a correction table. Secondly, nine validation trials were conducted to examine the accuracy of the force platforms after correction. The data taken from the centre of pressure and the motion capture were analyzed. Then the erroneous position of the centre of pressure data was translated to the correct position by using weighted average of the vector mostly close to the validation point. The method used in this study allowed to reduce the maximum error from 24.6 mm to 2.7 mm

A new method of hip joint moment’s evaluation

Joint moments play very important role in biomechanical research related to lower limbs. Three–dimensional motion analysis is widely used in clinical decision making and sport biomechanics. The accuracy of joint moments is particularly important for data analysis. If the joint moments are not accurate, it will mislead the clinical judgment. However there is no method to verify the accuracy of joint moments. To assess the reliability of the joint moments, a new method should be developed. So a new method based on the principle of the transfer between mechanical lower limb work and potential energy was developed. Five healthy student volunteers participated in the study. The motion data were collected and were processed using VICON motion analysis system. The lower limb work and the potential energy were calculated and compared in four kinds of hip joint centre location estimation models. Using the new concept, one of the four models showed the least difference between the potential energy increase and mechanical work. With this concept, the model in which the most accurate joint moment can be calculated was identified. However, given that these techniques are commonly used in the motion analysis laboratory set by researchers and clinicians, more investigations are needed in order to upgrade laboratory setting and joint center prediction methods

Prosthetic rehabilitation of multiple-digit amputations using silicone material in sub-Saharan African country Ghana

Digit loss might be due to traumatic injuries, congenital malformations and various diseases. Rehabilitation of finger amputations requires aesthetics and functional aspects. Due to limited resources in low income countries, some local professionals find it difficult to meet the patient´s needs. One of the methods of gaining total suspension is to don the residual finger with aesthetic silicone prosthesis. A 25-year-old female presented with multiple-digit amputations of both of her hands due to autoimmune disease. At first stage of the treatment, silicone prostheses of the loss fingers of both hands were planned. The impressions of the remaining fingers were taken to manufacture the silicone prostheses. The manufactured prostheses with total suspension improved patient´s social life. The patient´s residual fingers were fitted with the prostheses after which she was satisfied with the aesthetic aspects