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Living outside of “the box” after amputation - Sporting Prosthetics Success

Hampden National Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland saw the University of Strathclyde’s National Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics host the inaugural Sporting Prosthetics, SPEEAD scientific conference on Thursday 3rd September 2009. This, the third knowledge exchange event in the SPEEAD 2009 calendar, was attended by 100 delegates comprising healthcare professionals, educators and researchers.

Principal Professor Jim McDonald opened the conference saying that SPEEAD was put together with great ambition and was “improving performance, enhancing quality of life, knowledge exchange & relevance to society”.

Keynote speakers delivered presentations on topics relating to physical activity and sports participation. These experts drew on their experiences of working with special populations including those who use prostheses and each speaker brought national and international flavour to the event.

Brian Bartlett, having lost his leg in a traumatic accident inspired the audience by expounding his ethos that “there are no box parameters” when it comes to sports and exercise engagement after major limb amputation. Brian is an urban downhiller, and has invented a novel shock absorbing prosthetic knee for use in water boarding water and cross country cycling – and this has survived the ultimate test of Brian’s urban down-hilling.

There were two free paper sessions where four SPEEAD researchers showcased their research plans on topics including prosthetic feet for sports, alignment considerations for users of trans-femoral prostheses, profiling influences on sporting selection for people with lower limb deficiency, and group participation in sports for prosthesis users. Presentations on physical activity in those with diabetes, and a rowing study of prosthesis users also featured. A selection of these presentations can be enjoyed at www.strath.ac.uk/prosthetics

A particular highlight of the programme was an interview and discussion forum which explored the thoughts and feelings of four people who use prostheses in everyday and higher level activities. The parent of a prosthesis user also compassionately contributed to the discussion. This forum was chaired by the inspirational mountain climber and prosthesis user Jamie Andrew, whose relevant questions evoked answers from the panel providing the delegation with a sensitive and thought-provoking incite into patient-centred issues on prosthesis use. Of this session, delegates commented “it was interesting to hear about users’ specific experience and how positive support can really have a benefit in their rehabilitation” and “the interview and discussion forum was an excellent session exploring the depth of patient experience with regards to sports participation. It was brilliant way to seek real examples and experiences of people with disability”.

Based on the success of the SPEEAD events in 2009, preparations are already being made for a second SPEEAD scientific conference in 2011. Regular SPEEAD updates can be followed through the SPEEAD website
www.strath.ac.uk/prosthetics/research/SPEEADsportingprosthetics

The SPEEAD work in 2009 has been made possible by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the University of Strathclyde’s Collaborative Training Account (CTA) This funding has been gratefully received.