A pilot study towards long-term thermal comfort research for lower-limb prosthesis wearers

Background: Thermal discomfort among lower-limb prosthesis wearers is prevalent with social and medical consequences. Objectives: This study aimed to verify the feasibility of out-of-laboratory thermal comfort studies. Study design: Repeated measures pilot study. Methods: Thermistors were placed on participants’ residual limbs during two experimental phases. In phase 1, mean limb temperature was calculated over a controlled 55-min rest-exercise-rest protocol. In phase 2, participants conducted activities of their choosing wherever they wanted away from the lab, while limb temperature data were collected. Descriptive statistics and statistical differences between phases are presented. Results: Five male amputees participated with an average age ±standard deviation of 30 ± 9 years. In phase 1, mean limb temperature change ranged between 1.6°C and 3.7°C. In phase 2, mean limb temperature change ranged between 1.8°C and 5.1°C. Limb temperature was significantly higher in out-of-lab studies (+1.9°C, p = 0.043) compared to in-lab studies. Conclusion: Independent multiple-hour temperature studies are shown to be feasible. Results also indicate that out-of-lab residual limb temperature can be significantly higher than in-lab temperatures. Clinical relevance Thermal discomfort and sweating may lead to skin conditions and reduce quality of life among prosthesis wearers. Out-of-lab, long-term temperature studies are needed to comprehensively characterize thermal discomfort to create preventive solutions.