We are often asked how and when to use the terms prosthetics and prosthesis properly in a sentence. Learn that and related information from Amputee Coalition.
Living Free
For many people, asking for help can be hard to do. It requires facing the reality of missing a limb, which can lead to difficult emotions like shame, grief and self-doubt. Accepting help can also fuel fears of becoming a burden, or losing your independence. But a visit from a peer visitor or another amputee can not only ease these fears, but it can also help you find the answers to questions you’re not even ready to ask yet.
Tips on improving your gait
Published 12/6/2018 –
How do you know when your gait is “normal”? Check out these tips from a Physical Therapist to know if you might need help improving how you walk.
Prosthetic Feet
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 – BK
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.
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.
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.