Learning force control with an upper limb prosthesis.

People with an upper extremity amputation often choose to have fitted a prosthesis to restore the functionality for as best as possible. However, the rejection rate of prosthetic devices is high, mainly due to a low degree of functional use (Biddis and Chau, 2007; Dudkiewicz et al., 2004; Kyberd et al., 1998; Plettenburg, 2002). This functional use can be enhanced by training (Carter, Torrance and Merry, 1969; Lake, 1997; Weeks, Anderson and Wallace, 2003). We expect that by enhancing the functional use through training, the overall use of prostheses will be enhanced. Currently, prosthetic training in rehabilitation centre is not evidence-based but mainly based on own experiences. In this study we will focus on a specific part of a training, the feedback one has to receive to learn to use the prosthesis as good as possible During this study, the focus of learning is on the force control of a myo-electric prosthesis.
The main objective of the study is to determine what type of feedback facilitates learning to control the grip force of a myo-electric hand.

Type of feedback will have an influence on learning to control grip force.

The experiment will take place in September, October and November.

Pretest-posttest intervention. Participants will train force control in a virtual game (shooting a ball into a target) for 5 sessions. During the training one half of the participants will receive feedback in the form of knowledge of performance, the other half will receive feedback in the form of knowledge of results. Force control will be tested during three tests, a pretest, a posttest and a retention test.