Predicting Fall Risk for People Using Lower-Limb Prostheses
Predictive Gait-Based Biomarkers for Fall Risk in Lower-Limb Prosthesis Users
This project aims to find better ways to predict who might fall among people who use lower-limb prostheses by studying their walking patterns.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11181242 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people with lower-limb prostheses experience falls, which can lead to serious injuries, and current methods for predicting these falls are limited. This project will use advanced, markerless motion capture technology to analyze the walking patterns and movements of people with lower-limb prostheses. Researchers will compare this detailed gait information with traditional fall risk assessments to see if new, more accurate predictors can be found. The goal is to create a sensitive and specific fall screening method that can be easily used in clinics to help prevent falls.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this work would be individuals who use lower-limb prostheses.
Not a fit: Patients who do not use lower-limb prostheses would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a new, easy-to-use tool that helps healthcare providers identify and prevent falls in people with lower-limb prostheses.
How similar studies have performed: While gait analysis has been explored for fall screening, this project aims to develop a sensitive and specific protocol using markerless motion capture, which is a promising and evolving approach.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cotton, Ronald James — Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab
- Study coordinator: Cotton, Ronald James
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.