Off and running
Groundbreaking prosthetics research helps wounded veterans get back on their feet.
U.S. Army Colonel Patricia Collins was determined not to let a partial leg amputation spell the end of her competitive athletic career. Now, she’s running better than ever with the help of groundbreaking prosthetic limb research that’s designed to help veteran amputees regain the greatest possible level of functionality.
Collins, a 2013 International Triathlon Union Paratriathlon silver medalist and 2016 Paralympics hopeful, is one of several veterans working with faculty member Alena Grabowski in CU-Boulder’s Applied Biomechanics Lab to develop more efficient electrically powered ankle-foot prostheses.
“I am running faster, farther and more comfortably than I have since I’ve been an amputee, thanks to Alena and her team,” she said. “Having the opportunity to try different running legs and test variables such as weight and height alignment was revolutionary for me.”
“The ability to walk and run should never be taken for granted,” said Grabowski, an assistant professor in the Department of Integrative Physiology. She and her students are working with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) to reduce prosthetic limb rehabilitation time and reduce related health care costs, which will allow veteran amputees to resume intensive physical activities and even return to active duty if they so desire.
Her state-of-the-art lab, which is funded in part by a five-year Career Development Award from the Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation, Research and Development Service, includes a dual-belt treadmill, a high-speed treadmill, an eight-camera motion analysis system, sophisticated metabolic analysis machines and more than 60 running-specific prostheses.
With additional funding support from the DOD’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, Grabowski’s team conducts its studies using a unique prosOff and running Groundbreaking prosthetics research helps wounded veterans get back on their feet. HEALTH thesis called the BiOM. Developed by Personal Bionics in Bedford, Massachusetts, it helps restore natural gait and balance and lowers joint stress. For the first time in history, veterans with lower limb amputations have regained nearly full functionality while walking and running.
CU-Boulder undergraduates play a leading role in the research as well. “The best part of the experience was taking theoretical principles of biomechanics and putting them into practice,” said Rachel Klomhaus, a recent graduate who worked in Grabowski’s lab during her senior year. “I learned how to use tools and programs to make a difference in someone’s life.”
“My students provide an enormous contribution to my research,” said Grabowski. “Their creative energy is infectious and they offer important insight into research development and implementation.”
Grabowski’s work was featured prominently during this year’s National Veterans Research Week, which calls attention to the achievements of VA researchers and the role they play in providing high-quality care for veterans and advancing medical science.
“With the increasing number of veterans with leg amputations, there is a heightened demand for advanced prostheses,” said Grabowski. “We believe our research will improve advanced leg prostheses for walking and running, facilitating the reintegration of veterans with amputations in all facets of civilian life.”
Findings
Measles Vaccine
Measles remains one of the world’s most contagious—and deadly—diseases, but researchers have developed a powdered vaccine that can be delivered via a simple puff of air. The new dry vaccine is less expensive than its liquid counterparts and can be stored at room temperature for up to four years, according to Robert Sievers, a fellow of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) and a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The research, funded in part by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, could be a game changer for resource-starved regions of the world.
Outpacing Age
Want to tap into the fountain of youth? Start running. Researchers have discovered that senior citizens who run regularly for exercise can move more easily than their sedentary counterparts and expend the same amount of energy walking as a typical 20-year-old. “The bottom line is that running keeps you younger, at least in terms of energy efficiency,” said Rodger Kram, an associate professor in the Department of Integrative Physiology, noting that older runners also maintain a metabolic edge over seniors who just walk. Consider these findings one more persuasive reason to sign up for that 5K.
Dirt VS. Asphalt
Compelling evidence for putting the “jungle” back in “jungle gym”: A recent study found that playgrounds featuring natural wooded habitats—as opposed to asphalt and recreation equipment—reduced children’s stress levels and boosted their attention spans. In more than 700 hours of observation at a Denver-area elementary school’s outdoor play space, “zero uncivil behaviors were observed,” said Louise Chawla, a professor in the Program in Environmental Design. When it comes to effective teaching methods, Mother Nature is still the master.