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This study investigated the product/user relationship between a sample of 186 athletes and their racing bicycles. These participants completed a product relationship questionnaire that utilized a five-point Likert scale that investigated five pre-validated determinants of a product/athlete attachment. The questionnaire obtained an internal consistency using Cronbach's Alpha with a range of 0.73-0.89 of the sub sections. The results of this study achieved generally supportive responses for all five determinants of the product/user attachment. The data therefore supported that a positive product attachment can exist between athletes and this particular form of sporting equipment. By acknowledging that a product attachment can exist – even in the performance orientated biases of a competitive sport, offers the possibility of a new potential form of design-based ergogenics that warrants further exploration in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have proposed that an aerodynamically optimized prosthetic limb could provide performance enhancement for competitive paracyclists. Four different designs of prosthetic limbs were assessed for their impact upon the aerodynamic drag of an elite cyclist with a lower-limb amputation. The pylon area acted as the controlled location for the differences in design between the test prostheses. A validated field test method was used to derive the participant's total aerodynamic drag when using the prostheses designs. The field test method produced a repeatable experimental process and demonstrated that small changes in form made to the pylon region resulted in measurable differences to the participant's cycling performance. In addition, statistical significance was obtained between a baseline design and the prostheses prototype with the greatest aspect ratio (p= <.05). The magnitude of improvements recorded in this study could potentially influence a rider's finishing time at international sporting events like the Paralympic Games. Small changes in form made to a cycling prostheses design can potentially deliver worthwhile performance enhancement. Prosthetists may obtain greater end-user satisfaction by taking a broader approach to sports prostheses design than just fit and biomechanical function alone. This study indicates that other regions of the cycling prosthesis could now benefit from aerodynamic optimization with the aim to further improve paracycling performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sport with a disability has progressed from undertaking physical activity for recreation to one of a high performance environment at competitions such as the Paralympic Games. There is currently limited information and guidance to help inform stakeholders as to how to develop the high performance technology of elite athletes who possess limb absence. In this manuscript, a conceptual framework for high performance prosthetic limb creation is presented. This utilises a synthesis between contemporary product design theory and a review of existing case studies. This proposed framework is then applied to a case study. Ultimately, the framework provides an indicative guide to the creation of prosthetic limbs that emphasise technological performance enhancement over that of mere sporting participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Product attachment has been stated as an emotional relationship an end-user may develop with a tangible product or artefact. The objective of this study is to investigate this relationship with athletes who possess limb absence and utilise assistive sports technology competitively. Method: Five elite paracyclists were surveyed using a modified 31 question product attachment survey. The survey comprised the ability to capture both closed-ended and open-ended data. The survey design itself was derived from three previously validated product relationship questionnaires. Results: Four elite athletes with limb absence did not provide any firm evidence or indication to support the concept of a non-physical relationship with their prosthetic device. However, some respondents had (or wished) to incorporate some form of aesthetic-based prosthetic personalisation or customisation, as long as this did not impact on the prostheses functional performance. Furthermore, a thematic analysis of the participant's responses yielded a four-point assistive technology design philosophy framework. The emerging thematic areas were 1) The identification of the factors that influence performance in the athletes chosen sport; 2) To consider an 'appearance follows performance' approach; 3) To conduct sports specific trials of the prosthetic limb; and 4) To identify any need for prostheses decorative personalisation. Conclusions: The survey revealed some anecdotes of a sports technology to user relationship but this will require further exploration with different and larger sample populations. Use of the proposed four-point framework may help inform practitioners of what considerations could provide greater end-user satisfaction when designing and developing specialised prosthetic limbs for elite-level sport. Whilst the formal characteristics of product attachment were not broadly identified in this study, some indications may give credence for prosthetists to consider an "appearance follows performance" approach to sports prostheses design. This may improve end-user satisfaction with their assistive technology. The inclusion of prosthetic post-manufacture decoration and personalization would seem to be desirable to the end-user. By adopting the feedback given in this study, undertaking trials conducted at a race-specific intensity of the athlete end-user may reduce the need to perform post-manufacture ad-hoc prostheses modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of lower-limb running prostheses and stakeholders' perceptions of fairness in relation to their use in competitive disability sport. A Delphi study was conducted over three rounds to solicit expert opinion in a developing area of knowledge. High levels of consensus were obtained. The findings suggest that the prosthesis is defined as a piece of sporting equipment to restore athletes' function to enable them to take part in disability sport. In addition, the panel determined that the development of this technology should be considered to be integral to the sport's ethos. Crucially, prostheses technology should be monitored and have limits placed upon it to ensure fairness for both participants and stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation was undertaken to ascertain any impact or significance of athletes within the C4 paracycling classification between those who use a lower-limb prostheses and those who do not. A statistical evaluation of event completion time was undertaken to assess C4 cyclists when competing at the World Championships and the Paralympic Games in the 1 km track time trial. The C4 athletes who utilize a prostheses consistently outperformed non-amputees in the C4 classification from 2011 to 2016 on a competition-to-competition basis. However, when the participations were grouped as a whole together and an identified outlier athlete was removed, it was then demonstrated that there was no statistical significance between those who required the use of a lower-limb prostheses to those that did not when either evaluated on a competition-by-competition or on an amputee and non-amputee group-by-group basis (p ≥ 0.05). As a result, this study proposes that those requiring the use of lower-limb prostheses are neither advantaged nor disadvantaged in the C4 classification category when competing in the 1 km time trial at this time. Implications for Rehabilitation: This analysis indicates that at this time, there is no evidence to suggest that use of such technology is advantageous in this category or should be seen as controversial. The design of lower-limb prosthetic limb technology in cycling should continue to be developed and optimized unabated. This study begins to address the cited lack of peer-reviewed information regarding paracycling with limb absence available to practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the Paracanoeing discipline, it is important to ensure that appropriate control is achieved by a paddler with a disability. However, this Paralympic Games discipline has seen very little attention to date. The aims of this study were to understand the kinematic impact to a paracanoeist when not utilizing the use of a prosthetic lower-limb. A kayaker with a uni-lateral transfemoral amputation completed several 200 m maximal efforts both with and without their prosthesis. When the prosthetic limb was removed, there were significant differences found in stroke rate, stroke speed, stroke length and overall power output. Sagittal and frontal video analysis demonstrated the residual limb movements when paddling and indicated where support would be required to improve the kayak’s control. It is recommended that those with lower-limb absence wishing to paddle a kayak competitively utilize the use of a prostheses designed for the kayaking environment that supports the residual limb at both the upper and inner thigh and the distal end. Implications for rehabilitation: This paper is the first study to investigate both biomechanical and assistive technology-related issues in the new Paralympic Games sport of Paracanoeing. For participants possessing lower-limb absence, a prosthetic limb that is designed specifically for the kayaking environment is recommended when Paracanoeing to maximize efficient propulsion. Use of an ergometer and multiple 2D cameras provides practitioners the ability to optimize both the comfort and fit of a prosthetic limb. Use of an ergometer and multiple 2D cameras provides both athletes and practitioners the ability to optimize the points of human contact within a kayak to ensure comfort and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lower-limb amputees typically require some form of prosthetic limb to ride a bicycle for recreation or when competing. At elite-level racing speeds, aerodynamic drag can represent the majority of the resistance acting against a cyclists’ forward motion. As a result, the reduction of such resistance is beneficial to an amputee whereby the form and function of the prosthetic limb can be optimized through engineering. To measure the performance of such limbs, field testing provides a cost-effective and context-specific method of aerodynamic drag measurement. However, few methods have been formally validated and none have been applied to amputees with lower-limb amputations. In this paper, an elite level para-cyclist wore two different prosthetic limb designs and had their total aerodynamic drag of a wind tunnel reference method statistically correlated against a velodrome-based virtual elevation field test method. The calculated coefficient of variation was in the range of 0.7–0.9% for the wind tunnel method and 2–3% for the virtual elevation method. A 0.03 m2difference was identified in the absolute values recorded between the two methods. Ultimately, both methods exhibited high levels of precision, yet relative results to each other. The virtual elevation method is proposed as a suitable technique to assess the aerodynamic drag of amputee para-cyclists.Implications for rehabilitationThis assessment method will provide practitioners a reliable means of assessing the impact of changes made to prosthetics design for cyclists with limb absence.The proposed method offers a low cost and geographically accessible solution compared to others proposed in the past.This assessment method has significant potential for impact among prosthetic limb users looking to improve their cycling performance whereas previous attention in this field has been extremely limited. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]