The Fair Regulation of Lower-Limb Prostheses Technology in Paralympic

Running

BRYCE T.J. DYER BA (Hons), MSc

SUMMARY OF RESEARCH PROJECT

Within sport, there is a constant need to make sure that competition is as fair as possible between its participants. This research project investigates whether this is the case within lower-limb disability running and whether there are any future implications of unfairness through the use of prostheses technology used by its athletes.

From a 2008 study, an ethical foundation of values has been developed. This forms the basis for a proposed qualitative/quantitative legislative model for disability running sports technology. The proposed 2 stage model monitors that the athlete remains the main influence on their event success rather than as a result of the prostheses technology they use.

SETTING THE ETHICAL FOUNDATION: METHOD & RESULTS (May-Dec 2008)

22 participants undertook a 3 round Delphi Technique process*. This involved anonymous participation of an expert stakeholder panel questioned over a structured iterative process of rounds. The aim of the Delphi technique is in obtaining a shared consensus of opinion in developing or incomplete areas of knowledge. Consensus was defined as a 70% level of agreement between the panel and the absence of a change in opinion between the iterative rounds.

The Delphi process conclusions were:

• The lower-limb running prosthesis is a restorative form of equipment in nature.

• Increased legislative control and performance limitations should be imposed on the lower-limb prostheses to maintain

a fair environment within the specific running discipline.

• A lower-limb prostheses contribution is defined by the individuals own physical abilities that they have obtained under

naturally generated means.

*Note: as a result of this research, the author was recently invited to become a member of a new working group within the International Paralympic Committee.

PROPOSAL OF FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT METHOD (Late 2009)

Stage 2 of proposed model:- A functional assessment of the lower-limb prostheses.

The specification of this test are based upon the literature review and the findings of the Delphi study. They are:

•The prosthetic leg must be comparable to the sound limbs functional ability.•The compensation effect of the human musculature when using a lower-limb prostheses must be minimised where possible.•The tests should be repeatable in a non-laboratory environment and correlate as much as possible with the functional requirements of running.

PROPOSAL: The athletes lower-limb prostheses technology will be assessed through use of a uni-lateral limb drop test.

The limb to limb outcome measures between a sound limb and a prosthetic limb measured by this method will be leg stiffness and the percentage of energy return (from below the knee only) measured using kinematic methods.

Functional Assessment

(test derived from Delphi study values – Late 2009-10)

Qualitative Fairness Criteria

(new legislation derived from Delphi study - Mid 2009)

POST DELPHI STUDY - 2 STAGE PROSTHESES TECHNOLOGY INCLUSION MODEL PROPOSAL

Validated by:- mass design experiment to ascertain potential circumnavigation of rules (Oct 2009).

Validated by:- case study of disability athlete and comparative mechanical assessment of prostheses (2009/2010).

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Example of a drop test (bilateral variant)