Updated 08/2016 –
Over the past decade, technology and research have greatly expanded the functionality and aesthetics of prosthetic feet. Today, amputees have a wide array of feet from which to choose.
Wrapping with an elastic bandage – AK
Narrated by Paddy Rossbach, this is part of a series of demonstrations designed to help individuals learn to manage after a lower-limb amputation.
Donning an AK prosthesis with a full suction socket
Narrated by Paddy Rossbach, this is part of a series of demonstrations designed to help individuals learn to manage after a lower-limb amputation.
Introductory Amputee Care For Lower Limb Amputees
Published 4/26/2015 – Narrated by Paddy Rossbach, RN, former President and CEO – these video demonstrations are to help you learn to manage after a lower extremity amputation. They are not to take the place of your regular rehabilitation or medical care; rather they should serve as a reference or reminder of what you are being taught.
Prosthetic Knee Systems
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 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.
Identifying and Managing Skin Issues With Lower-Limb Prosthetic Use
Volume 21, Issue 1 January/February 2011 –
by M. Jason Highsmith, DPT, CP, FAAOP, James T. Highsmith, MD, and Jason T. Kahle, CPO –
Fitting a prosthesis is complicated because parts of the human body are used for tasks for which they are not designed. The skin/prosthesis interface is at fault for many complications. Here, a synthetic material, such as silicone or plastic, is in constant contact with the skin. Skin is not well-suited for this type of material contact. Skin problems are one of the most common conditions affecting lower-limb prosthetic users today. Skin problems are experienced by approximately 75 percent of amputees using a lower-limb prosthesis. In fact, amputees experience nearly 65 percent more dermatological complaints than the general population.
The Importance of Gait Training
Volume 21, Issue 1 January/February 2011 –
by Scott Cummings, PT, CPO, FAAOP –
It is the goal of most every lower-limb amputee to walk “normally” again. In the context of this article, “normal” is defined as a symmetrical gait pattern that falls within the “average” range in terms of posture, step length, rate of speed, limb positioning, etc. But being a lower-limb amputee resents many different challenges when it comes to ambulating safely and without exerting excessive energy.
Choosing the Right Shoe
Volume 20 · Issue 2 ·March/April 2010 –
by Séamus Kennedy, BEng (Mech), CPed –
Choosing the right shoe; what could be easier? Often, the decision depends more on your mood or your wallet than anything else. For amputees or people with complications from vascular disease, life is not so simple. Selecting the proper footwear may be an integral part of long-term health considerations, and this leads to more limited choices.
Focus on Bilateral Above-Knee Amputees
Volume 19 · Issue 4 · July/August 2009 –
by Kevin Carroll, MS, CP, FAAOP, and Randy Richardson, RPA –
People who have experienced limb loss know that it only takes a moment for your life to be completely redefined. Yesterday, you were standing and walking. Today, you are in a hospital bed or a wheelchair. Tomorrow – well, tomorrow is uncertain and hard to even think about. Any amputation is life-altering, but people with bilateral above-knee amputations face a particularly complicated process of physical and emotional rehabilitation. The long-term goal is usually being able to walk again with prosthetic legs. However, even after months of rehabilitation, many people lose confidence that they will ever walk comfortably and independently. What can bilateral above-knee amputees do to increase the likelihood of getting their feet back on the ground? They can follow a graduated, four-step approach to becoming a prosthesis user.