Introducing an adjustable upper limb prosthesis into a Ugandan clinical service: impacts on free living behaviour and prosthetic use.

ABSTRACT: Access to prosthetic services in Uganda is poor, negatively impacting people with upper limb difference in function, community participation, and employment. Technologies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of services are needed, but there is very little evidence of potential solutions. Off-the-shelf, adjustable prosthetic sockets, which can be fitted in minimal time without the complexities associated with traditional socket manufacturing, show promise. We tested the feasibility of introducing the Koalaa ALX, a prosthesis for people with trans-radial limb difference, and a peer-to-peer support system into a Ugandan clinical service. Prosthesis-worn and thigh-worn monitors successfully captured concurrent patterns of wear and free-living physical behaviours (including periods at h

SUBMITTER: Pickard N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11971239 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature