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A qualitative exploration of the experience of using an above-knee prosthesis with a microprocessor knee

Thesis (MHumanRehabSt)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.

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Main Author: Strafella, Tosca
Other Authors: Visagie, Surona
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2021
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access_status_str Open Access
author Strafella, Tosca
author2 Visagie, Surona
author_browse Strafella, Tosca
Visagie, Surona
author_facet Visagie, Surona
Strafella, Tosca
author_sort Strafella, Tosca
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MHumanRehabSt)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/123637
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:41:23.238Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2021
publishDateRange 2021
publishDateSort 2021
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/123637 A qualitative exploration of the experience of using an above-knee prosthesis with a microprocessor knee Strafella, Tosca Visagie, Surona Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies. Microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee joints Artificial knee Amputees -- Rehabilitation -- Attitudes Artificial legs -- Movements UCTD Thesis (MHumanRehabSt)--Stellenbosch University, 2021. ENGLISH SUMMARY : Background: Modern technology has allowed for many advancements in prosthetic knees. One such advancement is microprocessor-controlled knees. Quantitative research has shown functional advantages amongst users of microprocessor knees. However, the user experiences of these knees have not been widely explored. Objective: The study aimed to explore and describe the experience of using and obtaining an above-knee prosthesis with a microprocessor knee. Study design: This study was qualitative descriptive in design. Methods: Six participants who used prostheses with microprocessor knees were purposively sampled. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using video-calls. An inductive thematic analysis led to the identification of five themes. Results: Identified themes were: A life of quality – “life-changing”; Functional ability – “the beauty is that it helps you perform properly”; Safety – “a few stumbles but every time the knee catches me”; Limitations – “sometimes the mechanics are a little bit slow”; and Obtaining a microprocessor knee. Participants felt that the microprocessor knee decreased their disability and helped to normalize them. They were more functional with the protheses and positive about the safety features of the microprocessor knee. Obtaining funding for the microprocessor knee was typically a lengthy process and raised important questions around the ethical dilemma of cost versus benefit. Conclusion: Using the MPKs have improved the lives of participants in many ways. Being more aware of these benefits may assist practitioners in offering the appropriate prescription and funding motivation for future users. The cost versus benefit conundrum around prescribing microprocessor knees must be further explored especially in low- and middle-income countries. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Agtergrond: Moderne tegnologie het baie vooruitgang in prostetiese knieë moontlik gemaak. Die mikroprosessorbeheerde knie is ‘n voorbeeld hiervan. Kwantitatiewe navorsing het funksionele voordele onder gebruikers van mikroprosessorknieë getoon. Gebruikerservarings van hierdie knieë is egter nie wyd ondersoek nie. Doelwit: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die ervaring rakende die verkryging en gebruik van transfemorale prosteses met mikroprosessorknieë te ondersoek en te beskryf. Studie-ontwerp: ‘n Kwalitatiewe, beskrywende studie ontwerp is gevolg. Metodes: Ses deelnemers wat prostesis met mikroprosessor kniee gebruik is doelgerig gekies. Data is versamel deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met behulp van ‘n video-oproep. Induktiewe tematiese analise het gelei tot die identifisering van vyf temas. Bevindinge: Geïdentifiseerde temas was: 'n Lewe van kwaliteit – "Lewensveranderend"; Funksionele vermoë – "die prag is dat dit jou help om behoorlik te presteer"; Veiligheid – “die knie vang my elke keer as ek struikel", Beperkings "soms is die meganika ‘n bietjie stadig"; en die verkryging van 'n mikroprosessorknie. Deelnemers het gemeen dat die mikroprosessorknie hul gestremdheid verminder en gehelp het om hul ’n meer normale lewe te laat lei. Hulle was meer funksioneel met die prostese en positief oor die veligheidskenmerke van die knie. Die verkryging van finansiering vir die mikroprosessorknie was gewoonlik ‘n lang proses en het vrae laat ontstaan rondom die etiese dilemma van koste versus voordele. Gevolgtrekking: Die gebruik van mikroprosessorknieë het die lewens van deelnemers op baie maniere bevoordeel. As daar meer bewustheid van hierdie voordele is, mag dit praktisyns help om toepaslike voorskrif- en finansieringsmotiverings vir toekomstige gebruikers te bepaal. Die koste versus voordele konundrum rondom the voorskryf van mikroprosessor kniee moet verder ondersoek word, veral in lae en middel inkomste lande. Masters 2021-08-13T12:38:38Z 2021-12-22T14:13:23Z 2021-08-13T12:38:38Z 2021-12-22T14:13:23Z 2021-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/123637 en_ZA Stellenbosch University ix, 39 pages ; includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee joints
Artificial knee
Amputees -- Rehabilitation -- Attitudes
Artificial legs -- Movements
UCTD
Strafella, Tosca
A qualitative exploration of the experience of using an above-knee prosthesis with a microprocessor knee
title A qualitative exploration of the experience of using an above-knee prosthesis with a microprocessor knee
title_full A qualitative exploration of the experience of using an above-knee prosthesis with a microprocessor knee
title_fullStr A qualitative exploration of the experience of using an above-knee prosthesis with a microprocessor knee
title_full_unstemmed A qualitative exploration of the experience of using an above-knee prosthesis with a microprocessor knee
title_short A qualitative exploration of the experience of using an above-knee prosthesis with a microprocessor knee
title_sort qualitative exploration of the experience of using an above knee prosthesis with a microprocessor knee
topic Microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee joints
Artificial knee
Amputees -- Rehabilitation -- Attitudes
Artificial legs -- Movements
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/123637
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