The proposed research and training for this five-year Career Development Award (CDA-2) of Dr. Matthew Major, PhD, will contribute to the realization of the VA mission and vision by conducting studies that aim to reduce falls and improve the quality of life of older veterans with transtibial amputation (TTA)] while enhancing Dr. Major's skills to direct a dynamic research program of rehabilitation science as an independent investigator in the VA system. Previous studies have demonstrated that older persons with lower limb amputation are at a substantially increased risk of falling as compared to able-bodied age-matched controls and have reduced confidence in their balance, both contributing to their restricted mobility and daily activity. As upright balance is vital to safe mobility, an important consequence of elevated fall incidence is an increased risk of fall-related injuries that may lead to lost independence and early mortality. Due to the dearth of comprehensive controlled studies on this topic, the relationships between variables of postural control and fall risk in this population remain poorly understand and this has significantly hampered progress towards addressing this important concern for veterans with [TTA]. Therefore, the proposed research activities will involve a series of controlled experiments to develop much-needed insight into the sensory-motor mechanisms of upright balance and fall risk in older veterans with [TTA]. The two specific aims are: 1) identify discriminating biomechanical and clinical factors related to upright balance between older adults with [TTA] classified as [frequent fallers and controls], and 2) evaluate the motor control strategies employed by older adults with [TTA] when subjected to an unexpected perturbation during standing and walking. These research activities will be performed in the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center Motion Analysis Research Laboratory under the guidance of Dr. Steven Gard, an experienced VA Research Health Scientist of rehabilitation and prosthetics research. Information from this study will lead to the identification of sensory-motor variables related to fll risk that may be modified through targeted interventions and development of a clinically-relevant predictive model of falls. Dr. Major's career objective is to become a highly skilled independent investigator within the VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Service. Resulting from previous research and training, he has developed a solid foundation of skills related to investigating the biomechanics of human movement with specific focus on gait of lower limb prosthesis users. Dr. Major is proposing diverse training activities that will compliment his education in biomechanics by refining skills in amputee clinical care and motor control theory. His goal is to develop a productive VA research career aimed at improving functional balance and mobility of veterans with neuromuscular and musculoskeletal insult. His training plan includes formal education in prosthetics clinical education, clinical and translational sciences, project management, team leadership, and grant writing skills to develop his abilities as an independent VA scientist and effective leader. Dr. Major has assembled a well-qualified team of mentors who will provide expert guidance on various aspects of the proposed project in the form of directed readings and, most critically, exposure to the VA healthcare system such that he may develop a research program that is sensitive to the VHA patient care mission. The results of this research will facilitate pursuit of future research initiatives to explore design of theraputic interventions for improving postural control that may be integrated into the VA system of care, development of clinical diagnostic tools to accurately assess fall risk in older veterans with [TTA], inform VA prescription guidelines of current prostheses, and design future prosthetic devices that enhance functional balance. Importantly, these results will provide the basis for the submission of two VA Merit Awards that will be instrumental in transitioning Dr. Major to the role of an independent investigator working to fulfill the VHA patient care mission and vision.

Public Health Relevance

Lower limb prosthesis users are known to be at a substantially increased fall risk compared to able-bodied individuals. The interaction between increased fall risk, reduced balance confidence and high prevalence of a fear of falling often leads to restricted mobility and loss of independence. Critically, the cause of these falls and the role that inherent balance plays in fall risk is poorly understood. This study proposes to identify key differences in balance and mobility between older below-knee prosthesis users who have fallen twice or more in the past 12 months and those who have fallen once or less, and compare both groups to data from able- bodied individuals. By further understanding the differences between these groups and relationships between fall risk and various outcome measures, intervention techniques can be developed to improve functional balance. An improvement in upright balance will reduce the occurrence of falls and fall related injuries in this veteran population, as well as increase their participation in daily activities and improve their quality of life.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Type
Veterans Administration (IK2)
Project #
5IK2RX001322-05
Application #
9525623
Study Section
Career Development Program - Panel I (RRD8)
Project Start
2014-07-01
Project End
2019-04-30
Budget Start
2018-07-01
Budget End
2019-04-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
010299204
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60612
Major, Matthew J; Serba, Chelsi K; Chen, Xinlin et al. (2018) Proactive Locomotor Adjustments Are Specific to Perturbation Uncertainty in Below-Knee Prosthesis Users. Sci Rep 8:1863
Major, Matthew J; Scham, Joel; Orendurff, Michael (2018) The effects of common footwear on stance-phase mechanical properties of the prosthetic foot-shoe system. Prosthet Orthot Int 42:198-207
Major, Matthew J (2018) Fall Prevalence and Contributors to the Likelihood of Falling in Persons With Upper Limb Loss. Phys Ther :
Kim, Janis; Major, Matthew J; Hafner, Brian et al. (2018) Frequency and Circumstances of Falls Reported by Ambulatory Unilateral Lower Limb Prosthesis Users: A Secondary Analysis. PM R :
(2017) Erratum Phys Ther Rev 22:260
Major, Matthew J; Fey, Nicholas P (2017) Considering passive mechanical properties and patient user motor performance in lower limb prosthesis design optimization to enhance rehabilitation outcomes. Phys Ther Rev 22:1-15
Thies, Sibylle B; Kenney, Laurence Pj; Sobuh, Mohammad et al. (2017) Skill assessment in upper limb myoelectric prosthesis users: Validation of a clinically feasible method for characterising upper limb temporal and amplitude variability during the performance of functional tasks. Med Eng Phys 47:137-143
Major, Matthew J; Alford, Micah (2016) Validity of the iPhone M7 motion co-processor as a pedometer for able-bodied ambulation. J Sports Sci 34:2160-2164
Borrenpohl, Dylan; Kaluf, Brian; Major, Matthew J (2016) Survey of U.S. Practitioners on the Validity of the Medicare Functional Classification Level System and Utility of Clinical Outcome Measures for Aiding K-Level Assignment. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 97:1053-63
Major, Matthew J; Twiste, Martin; Kenney, Laurence P J et al. (2016) The effects of prosthetic ankle stiffness on stability of gait in people with transtibial amputation. J Rehabil Res Dev 53:839-852