Competitive Spirit Boosts Prosthesis Use: Insights from CYBATHLON 2020

How did participation in CYBATHLON 2020 promote behavioural changes in an individual with upper limb amputation? Team x-OPRA's pilot, Tonney Forsberg, showcased the transformative power of competitive drive at CYBATHLON 2020. Researchers from the Center for Bionics and Pain Research (CBPR) at Chalmers University of Technology, along with partners, investigated how the competition influenced his use of arm prosthesis in daily life.

In a groundbreaking study published in the Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, Eric J Early, Jan Zbinden and Maria Munoz et al. focussed on the profound impact of competitive motivation on prosthetic use and self-perception. Tonney Forsberg, an amputee equipped with osseointegrated prosthetics – an arm prosthesis, participated in CYBATHLON 2020, a competition where persons with physical disabilities showcase their abilities using assistive technologies.

Led by the multidisciplinary team x-OPRA from the CBPR, the study explored whether Tonney's competitive spirit during CYBATHLON influenced his prosthesis usage at home. The findings revealed a resounding "yes." Tonney's intense training regimen for the competition, coupled with his drive to excel, led to increased daily use of his prosthesis.

Before, During and After the CYBATHLON 2020

Before CYBATHLON, Tonney primarily viewed his prosthetic arm as a tool. However, the competitive atmosphere of the event motivated him to integrate the device more seamlessly into his daily routine. Notably, he began using a wider range of motions with his prosthetic hand, wrist, and elbow – a behaviour that continued long after the competition concluded.

Beyond quantitative data analysis, the researchers conducted semi-formal interviews with Tonney, revealing qualitative insights into his experience. They emphasized that he expressed a newfound sense of self-confidence and independence, crediting CYBATHLON for empowering him to tackle daily tasks more effectively. More specifically, Tonney said that before CYBATHLON he thought of this prosthesis as a tool, but since competing he feels that his prosthesis is more a part of his body. "[Now,] when I take my prosthesis off, I feel like something is missing." Ultimately, the biggest impact participating in the CYBATHLON had on him was to improve his self-confidence.

"The CYBATHLON helped me use my prosthesis more in daily life," he said.

"I think that was good for me. That was my reason for doing the race."

Tonney's journey exemplifies the potential of competitive events like CYBATHLON to drive innovation and improve the quality of life for persons with physical disabilities. Through collaboration between academia, industry, and the user community, advancements in assistive technologies continue to break barriers and foster dialogue and greater inclusivity.

The Team

x-OPRA, the team aims to advance prosthetic technology and enhance the lives of individuals like Tonney Forsberg. Despite losing his left forearm in an accident, Tonney remains resilient, empowered by his osseointegrated prosthesis. This cutting-edge device, developed through osseointegration techniques dating back to the 1960s, incorporates intelligent technology to offer sensory feedback, revolutionizing everyday functionality for amputees. As Tonney expresses a desire for improved hardware reliability, the x-OPRA team persists in their mission to refine prosthetic design, ultimately restoring lost functionality and enhancing the quality of life for individuals worldwide. "Prostheses often have difficulties in their implementation in clinical use, mostly due to reliability problems. Osseointegration solves this problem and enables us to use implantable neuromuscular interfaces in everyday life. We want to help patients regain the functionality lost through amputation and thus improve their quality of life," says team manager Max Ortiz Catalan.

Conclusion

The study underscores the profound impact of competitive motivation on prosthetic adoption and self-perception. Tonney's journey exemplifies the symbiotic relationship between technological innovation, user empowerment, and competitive spirit, paving the way for enhanced quality of life and independence among prosthesis users globally.

Reference: Earley, E.J., Zbinden, J., Munoz-Novoa, M. et al. Competitive motivation increased home use and improved prosthesis self-perception after Cybathlon 2020 for neuromusculoskeletal prosthesis user. J NeuroEngineering Rehabil 19, 47 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-022-01024-4