Improving Access to Prosthetic Devices: Challenges and Opportunities for Monitoring Physical Behaviour of Prosthesis Users

Over recent years, the Centre for Human Movement and Rehabilitation (CHMR) has received extensive investment allowing us to develop world-class research facilities for PhD study. These include three human performance laboratories, a prosthetics and orthotics workshop, markerless motion capture, cutting-edge ultrasound equipment, and access to the new North of England Robotics Innovation Centre (NERIC). CHMR has a strong community of postgraduate research students and is home to the £5.5 million EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Prosthetics and Orthotics. The Prosthetics & Orthotics Theme has a PhD project available with a focus on improving Access to Prosthetic Devices: Challenges and Opportunities for Monitoring Physical Behaviour of Prosthesis Users.

Globally, up to 80-90% of the need for prosthetic devices is not met, and this issue is more prominent in low and middle-income countries. Matching the correct prosthetic device to a user’s needs is crucial, but there is limited data on how these devices are used in the real-world and how they support functional ability. Body-worn sensors have become a commonly used tool for objectively measuring physical behaviour in free-living environments, but there are limited data on how prosthetic devices impact users’ lives. We are looking for a candidate who will be able to develop models that would accurately classify lower-limb amputee postures using data from sensors embedded in the shank of the prosthesis and use this to explore prosthetic usage in the real-world. 

We are seeking PhD applicants with a minimum of a 2.1 degree. We encourage candidates from various background to apply, including, physiotherapists, podiatrists, prosthetists, orthotists, engineers, physicists, computer scientists, sports scientists, occupational therapists, exercise and health scientists, psychologists, data scientists, rheumatologists, epidemiologists and health economists.

All students who study for a PhD at Salford benefit from our strong PGR community through peer-to-peer support, alongside dedicated PGR training and seminars. Core training and induction is mandatory for all three years and covers topics such as ethics, IT essentials, communications skills and EDI and wellbeing. The cohort structure encourages peer support and increases PGRs to network with one another to a build community of researchers that can engage with activities that are accessible and inclusive. Details of our student journey and how to apply can be found from our Doctoral School here.