Intensive training camp for children with a myoelectric prosthetic hand

Since 1978, the Limb Deficiency and Arm Prosthetic Centre (LDAPC) at Orebro University Hospital in Sweden offers a 5-day training camp for paediatric myoelectric prosthesis users1. The aim of the camp is to support the establishment of a regular prosthesis wearing pattern, increase capacity for control of the device, and establish prosthesis use in everyday tasks. Every year in August paediatric myoelectric hand users and their parents are invited to attend this intensive training. The camp consists of around 8 hours of scheduled training each day, both in everyday tasks and outdoor play activities. A structured programme with training of fine motor skills in the mornings and gross motor skills later in the days is prepared by the occupational therapists. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of this training procedure on children’s ability to operate the myoelectric hand.During 8-13 August, 2010, 11 children (aged 6-9, 6 boys) with unilateral below-elbow deficiency participated in the camp. The Assessment of Capacity for Myoelectric Control (ACMC)2 was used to evaluate the effectiveness of intensive training on ability to operate the hand. Every child performed an ACMC activity on the first and the last day of the camp (packing suitcase). Their performances were videotaped and scored by an ACMC rater that did not take part in training of the participants at the camp. An ability score for each child was calibrated by Winsteps program. The average ability scores changed from 2.45 logits to 5.04 logits. Most of the children (n=8) had a big change in the ACMC items that measure timing in grasping and releasing objects. The Conclusion is that the training camp is effective in improving the children’s ability to operate a myoelectric hand. The long-term effects on wearing time, skill and bimanual performance from intensive training camps need further studies.