‘It’s more than just a running leg’: a qualitative study of running-specific prosthesis use by children and youth with lower limb absence

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of running-specific prostheses (RSPs) by children with lower limb absence (LLA) along with the benefits and challenges of RSPs.

Materials and methods

In this descriptive qualitative study, eight children (ages 8–20 years) and their parents participated in semi-structured interviews. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Coded data were the foundation for central theme development.

Results

Three main themes were generated. “Run faster, jump higher, do more” (the benefits of RSP use), “Every leg serves its purpose” (comparing functionality between daily use prostheses and RSPs), and “A lot more to think about” (additional considerations with RSP use).

Conclusions

RSPs have a positive impact in promoting children’s engagement in sports and physical activities. While some children used their RSP primarily for running, others wore it for a broader range of physical activities. Issues with balance and discomfort caused by leg length discrepancies and/or ill-fitting sockets limited daily wear time. Limitations related to current RSP designs and clinical implementation should be addressed to optimize the functional potential of children with unilateral or bilateral LLA.

Implications for rehabilitation

• Running-specific prostheses (RSPs) positively impacted children’s ability to participate in some sports with peers promoting their physical and social well-being.

• The main issues that children faced were discomfort, difficulty balancing, and inability to use RSPs for certain sports, while parents’ issues focused on supporting prosthesis use and transport, and adjustments of different prostheses to keep up with their child’s growth.

• Clinicians should be aware of the challenges of RSP use to best support children and their families.

• Designers should focus on addressing limitations with current RSPs to facilitate the diverse needs of pediatric users.

Keywords:

• Running prostheses
• lower limb absence
• amputations
• physical activity
• pediatrics
• semi-structured interviews
• qualitative inquiry

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the physiotherapists and prosthetists who contributed to the development of the interview prompts, recruitment of study participants, and the review of the manuscript. The authors would also like to thank the children, youth, and parents that participated in this study and shared their experiences. Finally, authors would like to acknowledge the funding agencies that supported this research.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work is supported by the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation and the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada (RGP IN 2018-05046).