Prosthetics: Function & Aesthetics
Wayne Renardson
B> Thanks for the email.. and so speedy. :)
Well my head still works OK. It's my leg that is not so hot.
B> I think what I meant was I wasn't ready for supportive rigs just
yet because, and you explained it in your answer, I didn't want to be
one of the many unqualified people that dabble in this and damage a
wearer.
Certainly. And of course if the prosthesis does not fit properly
(comfort), it is simply a piece of metal/wood/whatever.
B> I guess, I'm looking to learn how they work, what function they
serve, and to explore possibilities.
There are many different types of prosthesies, just as each amputee
is different. You will spend considerable time discovering and
learning how the various types work, and how they do not work.
My rigs have, with a few exceptions, been what are called PTB or
patellar tendon bearing rigs, tho I was informed the term is a
misnomer. The condyles are the proximal (near) ends of the tibia and
fibula. My socket is a PTB with additional weight on the condyles.
This gives 3 major points of contact, the patellar tendon, lateral
condyle (fibula) and medial condyle (tibia).
B>... sometimes need to support your entire weight, or allow you to
grab and lift things.
Well supporting my weight (as do the tendons and condyles above) is a
critical function, and my ability to walk or lift things depends on
the comfort of the rig. If the prosthesis hurts me, then nothing
else matters since I will not use it.
B~> I absolutely don't want to create something that could possibly
break under stress and cause pain or even more damage to a wearer.
Right-o. Course, I have never broken my prosthesis. Back in 1990 I
was walking 10K (6 miles) a day. I would do 5K in the AM and another
in the PM. I did delaminate a Flex foot. Held it together for a week
using duct tape and got another. It is difficult to break a rig, tho
some very active amputees can and do break them.
B> In FX we pretty much built things that looked like they work, and
are never really built to last more than a few weeks.
Indeed. Emphasis on shirt-term aesthetics (does it look like the real
thing) rather than a functional unit.
B> So, I figured if I could explore on a more aesthetic level, then
that might eventually help me to understand the needs and
requirements of wearers for real world applications.
Many amputees are concerned with aesthetics. After all, it is a body-
image alteration and many people are not willing to advertise their
different body part or prosthesis. Some are, but I suspect they are a
minority.
B~> Any pointers are greatly appreciated.
If you want to explore idea with amputees, you might point your
browser to AMP-L at the University of Washington.
AMP-L was created in December 1995 by fourteen people who wanted a
forum to discuss ideas relevant to amputation. Originally hosted by
the University of Pittsburgh, it moved to the University of
Washington in December 1998.
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cheers
Wayne Renardson