Real-time sonography is a relatively simple and inexpensive method of accurately measuring muscle thickness as long as the operator adheres to a strict imaging protocol and avoids excessive pressure with the transducer.

A computer program, which was developed to train and assess child upper limb amputees in the use of myoelectric control, is described. The program permits a user to open and close a graphic hand using myoelectric control and automatically saves assessment results. The program was designed to be entertaining for children and easy to use for therapists. Preliminary testing of the program was done with fifteen nonamputee adult volunteers. The results indicate that the program is a useful tool for myoelectric training and assessment. All subjects improved at myoelectric control, the improvement being greater at the beginning of a ten day training period than at the end of it. The use of the dominant versus nondominant arm for control did not have any effect, and the error most commonly produced was undershooting.