Extremities

To optimize participation in society of persons with upper limb disorders, such as amputations, is the overarching goal of our research. We accomplish this goal by improving training programs, incorporating motor learning principles in treatment programs, introducing new medical devices and innovative digital environments to our patients.

Chronic pain bothers many single-handed persons, such as persons with a limb amputation or a brachial plexus injury. Our research into risk factors and new treatment options for musculoskeletal and phantom limb pain, contributes to pain reduction and enhances quality of life.

To optimize participation of persons undergoing a leg amputation by improving operation techniques, nutrition research and physical fitness. Special attention is focused on persons with CRPS type I who request an amputation.

To improve gait or to prevent diabetic foot ulcers we develop and study novel orthotic and footwear concepts. We aim at improving mobility or to keep people mobile.

Controlling an upper limb prosthesis needs training. Our research focuses on how persons with an amputation can learn to operate their prosthesis in a dexterous way, so they will be able to use their prosthesis more easily in their home situation.

Also gait retraining is essential to people who (partially) lost their mobility. We study how gait can be retrained effectively.

To facilitate training, serious games or AR/VR environments can be used. We focus on how serious games or AR/VR environments can be used to optimize effectiveness of training. We also investigate how skills learned in a digital environment transfer to improved performance of daily life activities.