How to walk with prosthesis

An ampute is initially installed with prosthesis,whether it is below knee or above knee prosthesis, it is almost impossible to walk well with a prosthesis.And many people will say, "Why do some amputees walk with prosthesis,who are almost no different from normal people?”. 

Yes, patients have orthopedic rehabilitation trainingwell and achieve walking which is hard to see the true and false degree, but this is not for all amputated patients.It differs from man to man.Not each amputation patients can achieve such a rehabilitation effect. So, what skills do you need for walking with prosthesis? How to wear artificial limbs to walk like a normal person. What skills or experience can make amputation patients with prosthesis quickly adapt to walking requirements, to achieve a good rehabilitation effect?

In this case, MEDI-REHATEK would like to talk about the walking skill for initial installation of artificial limb :

1, first of all, here MEDI-REHATEK would like to mention a prerequisite that is a good prosthetic socket. The prosthetic socket is a link which connects amputated body of the patient. The adaptability between prosthetic socket and the stump has a direct effect on the use effect of the prosthetic. Only the socket is good, the prosthesis will be comfortable to wear. On the contrary the prosthetic socket is not good, patient is not comfortable to wear,  not to mention the walking training.

2, walking training can not be impatient, everyone needs a process, doesn’t feel impatient when wearing a prosthesis. The strength should be well-distributed, mainly to maintain body with stability and balance as well as have a good attitude.

3, walking can use the mechanical principle of prosthesis to coordinate walking posture.Patients walk with a light step first, then continue with a heavy step.Patients recover the leg and stride with assistance of the ground reaction force.

4, although the prosthesis can be a means of transport, have the impact of beautiful walking gesture, you need to practice in front of the mirror, practice makes perfect.The more you go,the more nature it looks. 

Relative blog: How to deal with residual limb sweating and stink in Summer

The application environment of foot prosthesis

The Medi-Rehatek below-knee prosthesis with function compensation on foot is a product that is combined with the below knee prosthesis and below knee orthosis.This prosthesis applied to patient with severe loss of function of stump after foot amputation or to patients with a certain foot deformity. 

For example, after Bona-Jager disarticulation or Lisfranc disarticulation, it is often accompanied by the heel turning inwards, or backwards in deflection.

Load-bearing function of distal residual limb is not good, residual limb end will present with load-bearing pain. It is easy to damage the skin. In this case amputees should choose below knee orthosis or below-knee foot prosthesis.

The former below-knee prosthesis with function compensation on foot used stent style .The prosthetic socket is made from leather, connects with the rubber of the forefoot as one, and then It is reinforced with metal support, with a tight belt in the lower leg. This prosthesis has the shortcomings like heavy weight, that is easy to make the calf muscle atrophy.

Now most types of the prostheses are made from thermoplastic sheet or polymer resin materials. When the residual limb can not bear load, we need to build a similar below knee prosthesis with patellar belt which bears load.

The prosthetic socket is in accordance with the building of Syme prosthesis.There is an open window in the back of lower leg, the front partial prosthetic foot is made from polyurethane or rubber. This compensation to foot function can actually be seen as a special use of below knee prosthesis. 

Relative blog: Best way to take care the residual limb

Precaution in partial foot prosthesis assembly

Recently MEDI-REHATEK answered some on-line questions from net friends, often encountered the questions of partial foot prosthesis from amputees with partial foot amputation.They have some doubts about the use of prosthesis effects.Here we tell you something about partial foot prosthesis that you need to attention.

Partial foot amputation will lead to damage the normal structure of ankle foot.Without normal joint structure and ligament muscles and other constraints that doesn’t maintain the normal functional position of ankle and foot.It will be prone to occurring two cases without taking any measures:

First, patient is particularly vulnerable to fatigue when walking, have the feeling of tiptoeing always. This is because support point of forefoot moves backwards after partial foot amputation.The foot is always in a drooping position, so the state will need to spend double walking physical strength.

Second, the cross section touches the ground,that causes pain. As there is no muscle, ligament protection, cross-section is not guaranteed in the non-force surface, is easy to direct contact with the ground or increase friction, that will produce pain.

So the assembly of partial foot prosthesis must take the full account of  human anatomical structure in the process of prosthetic design and cast.That will install a satisfactory prosthesis. Of course, there is another way to solve this problem, that is,go to hospital to have fusion surgery to fix entire ankle.Then amputee has the assembly of artificial limbs. 

However, this approach is to reduce the difficulty in prosthesis design and assembly.So amputees may also have to undergo an operation again.Amputees need to decide by themselves.

No matter which way the functional limitations of the ankle and foot is, the amputees can have a good rehabilitation effect after wearing artificial limbs.Moreover the material characteristics of the silicone foot prosthesis is good,which can well protect cross-section from external injury. It increases the comfort of wearing. 

Relative blog: How to take care the residual limb II

Major knee disarticulation prosthesis

Medi-Rehatek knee disarticulation prosthesis excels in  the control of prosthetic performance and gait effect after rehabilitation exercise, the main features of the prosthesis has the following four aspects:

First, as the residual limb after knee disarticulation will be relatively large, knee prosthesis uses bony suspension (condylar suspension), prosthetic follow-up is good;

Second,as the length of residual limb is long,the assembly of knee disarticulation prosthesis is difficult than general knee prosthesis, so it is necessary to use specific knee joint components with multi-linkage (such as four-linkage) structure;

Third, hip muscles keep more complete with longer lever arm.The residual limb controls movement of the prosthesis that is better than other types of thigh amputation;

Fourth, knee disarticulation prosthesis usually uses stump end bearing load.Compared with the thigh prosthesis, the distal end of the residual limb bearing load is more in line with the body's physiological characteristics than the ischial tuberclebearing load.It can maintain better athletic performance. 

Relative blog: How to take care the residual limb