COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS AND FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE OF MULTIPLE DEGREE OF FREEDOM PROSTHETIC HANDS IN INDIVIDUALS WITH UNILATERAL TRANSRADIAL OR WRIST DISARTICULATION AMPUTATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.57922/mec.52Abstract
The stated goals of multiple degree of freedom (DOF) prosthetic hands are to improve function and create more natural movements for the prosthetic user. This cross-sectional observational study tested 75 persons with unilateral transradial or wrist disarticulation amputation using standardized measures. Three subtypes of prostheses were compared: body-powered, myoelectric single-DOF terminal device, and myoelectric multi-DOF terminal device. In most categories there was no significant difference in performance with the multi-DOF devices. Body-powered users had better scores in two measures of dexterity compared to myo multi-DOF users. Myo single-DOF users performed better than body-powered users in one test of everyday activities.