Paralympian tests custom prosthetic device constructed by NMU students
U.S. Paralympian Kelly Allen tests a custom-designed prosthetic at the PEIF pool at NMU on April 17. A group of NMU students in an advanced mechanical kinesiology course worked with NMU faculty and Allen’s prosthetist to design a custom prosthetic over the weeks prior, then tested how the prosthetic affected Allen’s performance during the pool tests April 17. (Journal photos by Cecilia Brown)
U.S. Paralympian Kelly Allen tests a custom-designed prosthetic at the PEIF pool at NMU on April 17. A group of NMU students in an advanced mechanical kinesiology course worked with NMU faculty and Allen’s prosthetist to design a custom prosthetic over the weeks prior, then tested how the prosthetic affected Allen’s performance during the pool tests April 17. (Journal photo by Cecilia Brown)
U.S. Paralympian Kelly Allen tests a custom-designed prosthetic at the PEIF pool at NMU on April 17. A group of NMU students in an advanced mechanical kinesiology course worked with NMU faculty and Allen’s prosthetist to design a custom prosthetic over the weeks prior, then tested how the prosthetic affected Allen’s performance during the pool tests April 17. (Journal photos by Cecilia Brown)
U.S. Paralympian Kelly Allen tests a custom-designed prosthetic at the PEIF pool at NMU on April 17. A group of NMU students in an advanced mechanical kinesiology course worked with NMU faculty and Allen’s prosthetist to design a custom prosthetic over the weeks prior, then tested how the prosthetic affected Allen’s performance during the pool tests April 17. (Journal photo by Cecilia Brown)
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MARQUETTE -- On April 17, U.S. Paralympian Kelly Allen tested out a custom-made prosthetic made by Northern Michigan University students in an advanced mechanical kinesiology course to help Allen improve her kayak performance.
The class had been collaborating with Lynn Vanwelsenaers, Allen's prosthetist for the weeks prior to help design a custom prosthetic for Allen, with the aim of giving Allen more leverage on her left side and improving her ranking of eighth best in the world in her sport.
Allen, who was born with a missing left femur, patella and fibula, along with an underdeveloped hip, began kayaking recreationally during her childhood in the Upper Peninsula, but got involved in competitive kayaking when she was a teen.
"When I was 14, I was introduced to an event called the Extremity Games, which is kind of like the X-Games but for people with disabilities … I did that competition, I was the youngest athlete and the only female in that division in that sport and I'm okay saying that I lost that time, but I kind of fell in love with the competitiveness of kayak and that atmosphere of being out on the water," Allen said. "So my parents signed me up for one kayak lesson and I went back and won that event for the men's and women's division for the past seven years and from there, I was recruited by one of the national coaches... I went to nationals and I somehow won that and then I got to go to Poznan, Poland, for the world championships, where I took fourth (place) and I've kind of just been in a boat ever since."
The students worked with Vanwelsenaers and the class's instructor, Assistant Professor Sara Clarke of NMU's School of Health and Human Performance.
to develop and test the custom prosthetic for Allen.
"This morning, we've had her in the pool, we've had her (boat) tethered to a force platform, which measures how much force she applies every time there is a stroke in the water," Clarke said.
They also used cameras to assess the length and duration of Allen's stroke with and without the prosthetic to see how it affected these parameters.
Allen, the NMU team and Vanwelsenaers said their initial impression of Allen's performance with the prosthetic was positive.
"Kelly's initial reaction was positive, so that's a good step in the right direction," Vanwelsenaers said.
Through participating in this project, students got to apply what they learned in class to a real-world situation with an elite athlete.
"It was very hands on and so I think it was a lot of good experience," said Ashley Vansumeren, a student in the class who is pursuing her master's degree in exercise science.
Impressively, this particular project was accomplished in the span of weeks by the class, which focuses on project-based learning.
"I teach an advanced spine mechanics graduate class here at Northern and within my class, I work with athletes and we do what's called problem-based learning. So we present the students with an athlete and some problem or challenge the athlete is facing and the students help that athlete solve that problem and by applying some of the advanced spinal mechanical theory we learn to their sport," Clarke said.
Students felt that the experience would translate well to future experiences in education and the workforce.
"I don't think I've ever been in a class where we've done this many projects where its as practical or as real world as this, so I think, especially going on to continue education or going out into the workforce, it's really cool to have had the opportunity to work with not only an elite athlete but .. actually apply the advanced theoretical concepts with an actual real-world experience," said Olivia Perrin, an NMU student in the class who is pursuing her master's degree in exercise science.
Vanwelsenaers said she was happy to work with the team on the project.
"This team is fantastic, its been a lot of fun to work with them, to take their ideas and put them to actual fruition, so it's been a lot of fun to learn and challenge them a little bit and see what we can create," she said.
Allen was also happy for the opportunity to collaborate with the team at NMU.
"I've been looking for something to wear in my boat for quite some time, I'm always looking to improve my abilities and I'm really open to any situations and so I just kind of grabbed the opportunity as it came and I'm really happy that I did," Allen said.
Cecilia Brown can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248.