樱花影视

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Faculty of Graduate Studies

Tess Carswell

  • BEng (樱花影视, 2019)

Notice of the Final Oral Examination for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Topic

A Patient-Oriented and Musculoskeletal Modeling Approach to Guide Prosthetic Design Improvements and Rehabilitation Priorities for Females with Transtibial Amputations

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Date & location

  • Thursday, December 4, 2025

  • 9:00 A.M.

  • Clearihue Building, Room B017

  • And Virtual Defence

Reviewers

Supervisory Committee

  • Dr. Josh Giles, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 樱花影视 (Supervisor)

  • Dr. Nick Dechev, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UVic (Member)

  • Dr. Marc Klimstra, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, UVic (Member)

  • Dr. Helen Monkman, School of Health Information Science, UVic (Outside Member) 

External Examiner

  • Dr. Glenn Klute, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington 

Chair of Oral Examination

  • Dr. Jonas Bambi Yona, School of Health Information Science, UVic

     

Abstract

Females with lower limb amputations are underrepresented in research and they experience unique challenges when compared to males. Addressing this research need, this PhD utilized principles of User Centered Design, Patient-Oriented Research, gait analysis, and musculoskeletal modeling to recommend improvements of sex-specific rehabilitation and prosthetic design for people with transtibial amputations.

A Patient-Oriented Research committee was developed, engaging females with lower limb amputations to inform research plans. Further, this committee co-developed a behavioural research study, including novel questionnaire and interview instruments that actively engaged females with lower limb amputations in their development. From this study, quantitative and qualitative sex differences in the priorities of people with lower limb amputations were elucidated and informed plans for subsequent research efforts as well as recommendations put forward.

A scoping review and evaluation of existing transtibial amputation musculoskeletal models was performed to determine the best to proceed with for computational modeling of sex differences in the gait of people with transtibial amputations. This resulted in the development of a database of existing models, including the chosen model. With this model, computational analyses of biomechanical gait study data were performed. For the gait study, people with transtibial amputations and able-bodied participants completed level and sloped walking trials. Findings demonstrated sex differences in gait biomechanics of people with transtibial amputations and unique differences between females with transtibial amputations and able-bodied females not observed in the male comparisons, informing recommendations.

Ultimately, findings were compiled to propose recommendations for further investigation of sex specific rehabilitation priorities and prosthetic design. Namely, recommendations to perform sex-specific comparisons of gait for the purposes of rehabilitation or assessment of prosthetic technology, prioritize sex-specific rehabilitation towards female mobility needs, and investigate female-specific prosthetic ankle designs with additional propulsion and range of motion.

 

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