The Centre has custom-designed premises with clinical examination, treatment and workshop areas, lecture rooms and research laboratories. A specialised information service provides support to healthcare professionals. Recal Information Services is an internationally recognised service, providing bibliographic information to a worldwide audience. The database is offered to international subscribers through a dedicated website. This work has attracted external funding to develop and test software and hardware systems and resulted in regular publication.
Custom software is used to control patient measurement, prosthesis design and manufacture.
The common theme is examination of the biomechanical interface between tissue and prosthetic or orthotic device. Ongoing research includes Investigation of novel socket shaping techniques for use in low-income countries. The aim is to create a system of producing sockets in regions of the world where there are severe economic and other resource constraints that limit the usefulness of techniques used in the developed world Investigation of dynamic pressures at the interface between trans-tibial prosthetic sockets and the stump. The aim is to obtain greater understanding about how to shape a prosthetic socket so that comfort and function are superior Measurement of the movement of the femur within the socket of a trans-femoral amputee. In the trans-femoral amputee, forces generated by normal activity are transmitted from the socket through the tissues of the thigh to the skeleton.