The field of prosthetics has transformed the lives of amputees, both emotionally and physically. Without the invention of prosthetic limbs, it would have been highly problematic for the limbless and Amelia individuals to strive in this global world. People without limbs are prone to difficulties with their basic activities such as walking, dressing, and roaming around. But today, they can perform all daily activities, all thanks to prosthetic limbs. However, when looking out for a prosthetic limb, it is applicable to seek advice from experienced users, to guide you on how to choose the right prosthetic limb. Nevertheless, now that you are here, don’t look any further.
This post will break down the prosthetic limb, exploring its various types and the important factors to consider when choosing the prosthetic limb. Besides, we shall discuss the common problems found in prosthetics and the ways the issues can be solved.
Understanding Prosthetic Limb
What is a prosthesis?
A prosthesis is an artificial device attached to a body part that is missing or not functioning. The prosthetic device is replaced with external body parts such as the limb and likewise the internal parts such as the joint replacement or mechanical heart valve.
However, they are made for those who have an amputation in a body part and thereby used as a replacement. For an individual with amputation, a prosthesis limb is connected to the specific body part, enabling the patient to carry out their daily activities like waking, dressing, and eating conveniently. For more details on its usage, the individual must seek professionals such as a prosthetist or physical therapist. The prosthetists are experts who examine amputees’ condition and provide the necessary treatment such as fabricating, fitting, or designing. More so, they guide users on the advice and tips to follow while using the prosthetic.
Types of prosthetic limbs
There are four basic types of prosthetics, and they include transradial, transhumeral, transtibial, and transfemoral. Each form of prosthetic has its unique function involving its area of replacement and how it is connected to the body.
1. Transradial
A trans-radial prosthetic is an artificial arm located beneath the patient’s elbow. Transradial prosthetics are subdivided into passive and active device types. The passive device is meant for cosmetics only and does not restore function or stability. Meanwhile, the active Transradial device is designed to restore function to the missing limb.
Furthermore, this type of prosthetic can be designed as a cable-operated drive, connecting a saddle to the shoulder of the missing arm to enable definite movement control. It can also be a myoelectric prosthetic device that uses a sensor to detect muscle movement in the arm, aiding the movement of the prosthetic hand.
2. Transhumeral
This type of prosthetic device is attached between the shoulder and the elbow of the body. The absence of the elbow in transhumeral prosthetics makes it more complex than the Transradial prosthesis, in terms of comfort and functionality. However, The myoelectric sensors or cables are mostly integrated into the transhumeral prosthetic device to enable the user to move their limb comfortably.
3. Transtibial
A transtibial prosthesis is an artificial leg device located below the knee. This type of prosthesis works by distributing weight to the knee during movement. The artificial limb of this prosthesis doesn’t move, hence, using this prosthetic device requires proper physical rehabilitation to get used to walking in a specific way.
4. Transfemoral
A transfemoral prosthesis is an artificial leg that is attached above the knee. It comes with a socket and a knee joint to connect the residual limb to the prosthetic leg, providing comfort during movement. However, this prosthetic may seem challenging in terms of knee joint replacement. After connection, users will recover their walking ability in a short time.
Key Factors To Consider When Choosing a Prosthetic Limb
If you need a prosthetic limb, there are some necessary factors you need to consider before choosing one. The factors to consider are comfort, appearance, functionality, and cost. Now, let’s break down the factors.
- Comfort: Before choosing a prosthetic limb, be sure to examine its level of comfort. However, your prosthetist will help to identify the best comfort level to suit your daily activities. According to norms, the comfort of a prosthesis should depend on the location and status of your amputation, the condition of your residual limb, and the rate of your daily activity. Hence, selecting a comfy prosthesis will determine your overall functionality and performance. In addition, be aware of your environment and weather conditions, as they may influence the comfort of your prosthesis.
- Appearance: Ensure to look into the facial Appearance of a prosthetic before selecting. It involves checking all the uncovered parts of the prosthetic parts, making it have the outlook of a natural prosthetic limb. Also, seek your prosthetist for more insight into how a prosthesis should look, including its various parts. Therefore, this will enable you to identify the right one that suits your basic requirements.
- Functionality: It is essential to analyze the functionality of a prosthetic before choosing. A functional prosthetic should be designed to detect arm muscle movements in the amputation region, translating the movement to the brain signal to get the arm working. More so, look for a prosthetic that has a socket, as it aids in proper fits of the residual limb. A prosthetic must fit correctly to aid the functionality of the body’s movement. As a result, there are fewer possibilities for friction, swelling, or skin damage to occur.
- Design & Cost: One of the essential factors to consider when selecting a prosthetic is its cost. First, look into its design and features if it’s worth it. A prosthesis with a quality design is made from materials like carbon fiber, acrylic resin, aluminum, and titanium. To get a custom-made design, seek assistance from your prosthetist. Your prosthetist will work closely with reputable production sources for a specific product design. However, these will require more costs and expenses.
The Prosthetic Fitting Process
An amputation of a body part can lead to serious difficulties in a lifetime, especially in terms of limb loss. But today, users can regain their mobility and freedom due to the invention of prosthetics. However, if you do not know how to fix the prosthetics, here you are. We shall explain the prosthetic fitting process to guide you on leveraging the prosthetic effectively.
- Initial Consultation: First, to begin a prosthetic fitting process, visit a prosthetist for initial consultation. The prosthetist will talk about your needs and the fitting procedures. During the visit, the prosthetist will look into your prosthetic limb to check if it’s compatible with your body, evaluating your physical strength and mobility. This will enable them to check out the best suitable prosthetic limb for your amputation.
- Preparatory Phase: After getting your prosthetic limb, a preparatory phase has to take place before being connected to the body. During this process, your residual limb might require a reshaping or reducing the size for utmost fit. Also, your prosthetist might recommend physical therapy to strengthen the muscle movement, providing more stability and balance.
- Measuring and casting: At this point, taking accurate measurements and creating a cast is necessary. It involves dressing your prosthetic limb with the required material to develop a fold. When casting, your prosthetist will concentrate on looking into the contours and shape of the residual limb to guarantee accuracy and convenience.
- Design and Fabrication: During casting, the prosthetist will design and fabricate your specially made prosthetic limb. Your prosthetic will create a specially-made prosthetic by working hand in hand with sets of engineers and mechanics for a custom prosthetic design. However, you might need to wait for some period based on the type of design you want.
- Fitting: This is the main process in leveraging a prosthetic limb. It involves having a fitting session with your prosthetist, for adjustment and alignment with the body part for maximum comfort. Your prosthetist will make sure it aligns with your biological limb to hinder a sign of discomfort
- Training: After the fitting session, you need to seek a physical therapist for the necessary training program. They will provide insights to assist you on how to adapt to the new prosthetic limb, providing a quick balance and stability after attaching the prosthetic limb. This process will guide you in using the prosthetic limb safely.
- Maintenance and Follow-up: During the journey in the fitting process, be assured that it does not end after the training. Follow-up appointments are required with your prosthetist to watch over you for any further adjustments or corrections. If at a certain point, the prosthetic limb needs repairs, your prosthetist will provide the necessary assistance.
The prosthetic fitting process is an essential component that provides functionality and comfort throughout the entire usage of the prosthetic limb. It starts from the initial consultation to the alignment phase, fitting session, and follow-up appointments to meet your desires and goals. By working closely with your expert prosthetist, recovering your freedom and fastening a fulfilling life with your prosthetic limb is achievable.
Common Challenges With Prosthetic Limbs
- Fit and Comfort: These occur when the prosthetic is not well fit to the body part, leading to pain and discomfort. Thus, the user might not be willing to use a prosthetic limb again. As a result, a regular checkup is required for any necessary adjustment.
- Skin Issues: In between the prosthetic limb and the skin, irritation does often occur. Therefore, proper care and hygiene are crucial to hinder these issues. More so, users should check their skin regularly for any form of irritation.
- Mobility: Getting to know the proper use of the prosthetic limb requires time and procedures. In this case, it is necessary to consult a physical therapist for help on how to adapt the new prosthetic limb for mobility. They will enlighten you on how to start walking and gain balance, depending on the level of amputation.
- Phantom Limb Pain: This challenge often causes severe pain to the user. Hence, the treatment options for this pain include medications, massage, and other measures that can remove the pain.
- Cost difficulties: The cost of prosthetic limbs can sometimes be a significant problem. Due to this, users should seek their insurance coverage and consider getting in touch with insurance providers for assistance on cost difficulties.
- Psychological Considerations: Mostly, support from relatives or friends can be invaluable, and hence, mental health care functions by assisting users to blend in with their new way of reality.
Adequate Solutions For Common Prosthetic Limb Issues
By following the basic guidelines and strategies, amputees using prosthetic limbs can fulfill a quality standard of living. Starting from regular care, devoted physical therapy, proper hygiene, and financial planning are crucial for preventing the difficulties of living with a prosthetic limb. Here, we shall discuss the solutions for common prosthetic limb issues.
- Regular Consultations: Working closely with a prosthetist for regular consultations is a way to reduce the occurrence of discomfort in a prosthetic limb. During the consultations, the prosthetist will check your prosthetic limb for necessary adjustments and cure any issues that may want to occur. Having a Regular check-up will lessen the rate of skin irritation and discomfort.
- Hygiene implementation: Good hygiene is necessary for individuals to avoid getting skin issues and infections. Daily hygiene such as cleaning the prosthetic socket and checking out the skin for any irritation or swelling will prevent further difficulties. For regular cleaning of the residual limb, use the applicable lubricants to maintain the skin’s virtue and comfort.
- Having sessions with Physical Therapy: Regular sessions with physical therapy are applicable for new prosthetic users as they help build strength, mobility, and fitness. These sessions are designed to improve user balance, and strength in performing their daily activities or exercise. However, the time of the therapy sessions will depend on the level of amputation and the type of prosthetic limb. With consistent physical therapy, users can gain mobility, using their prosthetic limbs effectively.
- Seeking Medical And Psychological Assistance: Always ensure to seek medical support once you notice any sign of issues such as phantom limb pain. The treatment may involve nerve blocks, medications, or consulting the mirror therapist for support. Moreover, psychological support mainly involves counseling or participating in related services. Through these services, individuals can blend with the psychological impact of limb loss and adapt to a new body portrait.
- Seeking Insurance coverage: The cost of prosthetic limbs can be challenging. Therefore, exploring different financial aid options through local community resources and government agendas can be a significant choice. Moreover, seeking insurance coverage providers is essential for understanding the extent of cost and price differences. Some insurance providers will provide payment schemes or financial assistance agendas to help handle the costs associated with prostheses.
The Future of Prosthetic Technology
We are gradually moving towards the future where the prosthetic limb will deliver outstanding performance than the biological limb, enhancing greater mobility and convenience. With continuous advancement in prosthetic technology, the future will have a significant impact on the lives of amputees. The advancement in sensor technology, mind control prostheses, and bioelectric interfaces will highly transform the field of the prosthetic limb.
With the integration of this advancement, researchers and engineers can increase and lengthen the possibilities of the amputees through a prosthetic limb. Prosthetic technology has played a significant role in the lives of amputees, setting a new standard of living for people with limb loss. As these technologies continue to grow, there is a high possibility for amputees to strive more effectively in the future.
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