STEPHANIE L. CAREY (PhD CLASS OF 2007): The Study of Compensatory Motions While Using an Upper Limb Prosthesis.

        Current improvements of the design of the upper limb prosthesis include advanced technology in control systems and electronic circuitry that mimic human motion and improve function of the prosthesis.  Often times these improvements require large amounts of power, circuitry and excess mass distally along the prosthesis that may require greater effort from the user. Poor function of an upper limb prosthesis may cause awkward compensatory motion.  Aberrant movements, such as these compensatory movements are known to cause greater stress to remaining joints. Amputees are forced to decide if the extra function provided by the advanced electronics is worth carrying the extra mass which may cause fatigue, socket issues and greater stress on the remaining joints. An example is the wrist rotator component of an upper limb prosthesis which may allow greater function and reduce compensatory motion, but adds mass distally, potentially causing greater torques on remaining joints.

I am studying the effects of added mass equivalent to a wrist rotator on a transradial prosthesis during activities of daily living.  Using a motion analysis system, I record control subjects, braced subjects and amputees using a transradial prosthesis completing four tasks: opening a door, drinking from a cup, lifting a 5 lb. box and turning a steering wheel.  Using a software program, I calculate and compare shoulder flexion, shoulder abduction, elbow flexion, torso bending, and shoulder and elbow joint forces and torques. The prosthesis causes compensations in the residual and intact limb.  It is important to understand these adaptations to improve prosthetic design and prescriptions.

          

About Stephanie L. Carey: Stephanie was born in Miami, FL.  She completed her BSES at the University of Florida, and her MSBME at the University of Miami.  She worked for 8 years at the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, an excellence of the University of Miami, as a research associate studying gait therapy of persons with spinal cord injuries.  She also worked in Denver, CO for 3 years as a systems engineer and customer trainer for Peak Performance Technologies, a motion capture system company.  Currently, she teaches Foundations of Engineering at USF, and is the advisor of the motion analysis laboratory giving technical support in projects involving kayak terminal device and a finger tip device for an upper limb prosthesis, and various prosthetic knee designs. She is under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Rajiv Dubey and also works closely with the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitative Sciences.