Last updated: 12/07/2014 –
by Bill Dupes –
Of all prosthetic components, the knee system is arguably the most complex. It must provide reliable support when standing, allow smooth, controlled motion when walking, and permit unrestricted movement for sitting, bending and kneeling.
Prosthetic Devices for Upper-Extremity Amputees
Updated 12/2014 –
by Rick Bowers –
Passive prostheses are generally considered to be devices that are worn purely for cosmetic purposes. Functional prostheses, on the other hand, are devices that enable an amputee to perform tasks. These devices may or may not also serve a cosmetic purpose.
Transtibial Suspension Alternatives
Last updated: 12/07/2014 –
by John W. Michael, MEd, L/CPO, CPO Services, Inc. (Portage, IN) –
The better the human-machine connection, the more comfortable the prosthesis and the more effectively it can be controlled by the residual limb. Clinical experience has shown that even small improvements in suspension of the prosthesis are well received by amputees, which helps explain the variety of alternatives that have been developed.
Prosthetic Socks and Liners
Last updated: 12/07/2014 –
by Jack E. Uellendahl, CPO –
If I were to ask a room full of amputees what the most important feature of their prosthesis is, I am certain that comfort would be high on the list of responses. Without comfort, the most technologically sophisticated components become useless. At the most basic level, comfort within a prosthetic socket is achieved by good pressure distribution and the management of friction (shear) forces. Prosthetic socks and liners are the interface materials in contact with the residual limb and are integral to the comfort of the prosthesis.