3 Considerations For A Custom Prosthetic
Posted on: 25 November 2019
Losing a limb is devastating, but it doesn't have to prevent you from engaging in the activities that you enjoyed before becoming an amputee. A prosthetic can be used to help you regain the independence and confidence you need to move forward with your life after a tragic accident or illness.
Most people opt to invest in a custom prosthetic to ensure the best fit. You can use your prosthetic as a way to display your personal story by customizing the prosthetic to reflect your personality.
1. Activity Level
Amputees don't have to become stationary. You will find individuals who have lost limbs competing in many sporting activities and engaging in all kinds of outdoor endeavors. Your personal activity level is one consideration that will need to be made before you acquire a custom prosthetic.
The device will need to be designed to help support your physical activity without creating any alignment or weakness issues. You can work closely with both your physical therapist and your prosthetist to design the prosthetic that will meet your needs.
2. Socket Style
There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to creating a prosthetic. Each device is as unique as the individual using it. This means that there are a few different ways that your prosthetic can attach to your residual limb. The most popular socket styles are vacuum, suction, and pin lock.
You should try out each socket in a medical office to determine which feels most stable. You can even request multiple sockets if you want to further customize your prosthetic for individual scenarios that you face daily.
The right socket will help you feel more comfortable using your prosthetic and ensure that you don't develop any pain, irritation, or blisters on your residual limb.
3. Appearance
A prosthetic allows you to completely customize the way that your replacement limb will look. You can opt for a prosthetic that has a mechanical look, or you can have your prosthetic fitted with a cosmetic cover so that it looks like your other leg.
If you really want to make a style statement, you can have your socket printed with the logo of your favorite sporting team or a colorful pattern you find appealing. The ability to customize your prosthetic to look however you want it to can help you embrace the idea of wearing the prosthetic with confidence on a daily basis.
For more information, contact a company that offers custom prosthetics.
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