Occupational Therapy Research Paper

A phantom limb can actually be very painful and debilitating to a person and hinder their daily life. Severe pain can also cause the patient to reject the use of a prosthetic limb in place of the amputated one. Sadly most people do not find relief in many of the pain therapy options offered. Often if there was any pain right

The National Academy of Sciences established the Artificial limb Program in 1945. The program was created in response to the abundance of World War II veteran amputees. These veterans had limited options; crude, wooden or metal prostheses. For those who chose none their life was confined to a wheelchair or a bed. As time passed, new improvements were developed to provide not only comfort to the amputees, but to help them control and use the limbs better to improve their quality of life. For many years wood was the dominant material for a prosthesis, but over the last 20 years materials have emerged to give greater comfort and confidence for amputees.

“Phantom limb is the feeling or sensation that the limb is still present” (Atkins 11).Phantom limb syndrome has also been an issue since the beginning of amputations. The difference is that now phantom limb syndrome can enhance the healing process by training the arm for prosthetics especially when myoelectric control is present (16). “In 1837 Robert Liston introduced a flap amputation like the one used today” (22). Flap amputation is where a flap of tissue and muscle is left over to cover the bone (22). This helped to decrease infection, shorten recovery time, and increase mobility in the limb (Atkins 9). One of the first functional prosthetics was the Anglesea leg created by James Potts (Sellegren 23). The prosthetic was named “Anglesea leg” because Marquis of Anglesea made it popular after he lost his leg in the battle of Waterloo (23). In 1839 Potts leg was finally introduces into the United States but didn’t become universally accepted until decades later

During the B.C.E, General Marcus Sergius, who is a famous ancient roman to wear prosthetic limb. He lost his right hand during the Punic war. His prosthesis was made of iron, it allowed him to hold his shield to continue the fight. Most of the prosthetics we read about show how warfare was the biggest contributor which created the need for prosthetics.

When the i-LIMB hand first came out in the United Kingdom on July 2007, people were amazed of this new technology that seemed to be from the future. The “I-LIMB applies myoelectric technology, where the prefix myo- denotes a relationship to muscle. Myoelectric prostheses are controlled by placing muscle sensors against the skin at the site of amputation. The electric signals generated by the muscle at an amputee’s stump controls a processor aboard the prosthetic. This myoelectric technology allows for greater control and precision in the five fully functional digits, enabling recipients to perform everyday tasks such as picking up coins and opening tabbed aluminum cans,” (5 Major Advances is Robotic Prosthetics). With this new enhancement, using a prosthetic will be a lot easier and precise almost like a human hand is. As time goes by, hand prosthetics are getting quicker and better controlled than

Prosthetic limb is an artificial device that is used to replace the amputated part of the patient’s limb. Myo prosthetic limb takes the signals from the patient’s muscles, which are live, to operate the artificial limb that is being used to replace the amputated part of the arm. Through the mechanical and electrical technologies’ applications it tries to copy the movement of the actual limb. In most cases, the bicep or triceps muscles can be used to retrieve those signals which are to be processed further through circuitry. Other than that, any other muscle that is active and can give the slight electrical signal can be used to process the signal. Myo prosthetic limb comprises of electrical portion, that is the circuitry, as well as the mechanical portion that is the actuator and gripper. The signals that are received can be used to actuate the gripper through which any object can be picked, held and released as per the requirement of the patient.

The history of prosthetics dates back to the early “Egyptians between 950 and 710 B.C. according to the discovery in 2000 of the world’s first prosthetic toe, composed of wood and leather, from the mummified remains of a noblewoman.” (Advancements in Limb Prosthetics

Today, over 100,000 people living in the United States have amputated hands or arms alone that could benefit from this recent technology (Medicine, 2016). There are many reasons behind a person becoming an amputee, such as injury, accident, or the development of cancer in that limb. The most common reason for amputation is poor blood flow which often causes infection and death of the tissue. There are different types of amputations of the leg that include above-the-knee and below-the-knee. The arm is referred to in the same way, above-the-elbow and below-the-elbow. The amputations that are above the knee or elbow joints are riskier and have a greater chance of complications. People with illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, or any type of infection also are at higher risk for complications from amputation surgery

Prosthetics are artificial extensions that replace a missing body part. An evaluation, fabrication, and custom fitting of artificial limbs is known as "prostheses." Prostheses enhance the function and lifestyle of persons with limb loss. Prosthetic patients may have been born with limb deficiency or have experienced amputation due to trauma, cancer, infection, or abnormalities in blood vessels or nerves.

Of the numerous prosthetics producers in existence, Open Bionics is a developmental leader. The UK-based company specializes in constructing viable and aesthetically pleasing prosthetic arms [6]. Through the use of 3D printing technology, Open Bionics operates at a fraction of the normal production cost—a mere $3000 versus $40K—while maintaining articulation and motion [8]. A US-based, non-profit counterpart, Limbitless Solutions, estimates its own production around $350 [9]. As prosthetics continue to advance and decrease in cost, thus becoming normalized, the road to transhuman prosthetics becomes

Prosthetics can be described as the design and fitting of custom made artificial or replacement limbs due to traumatic injuries, diseases, disorders, or cancer. Prosthetics have been dated back to Greek and Roman times or maybe even before. Researchers have made this assumption upon finding a wooden and leather prosthetic toe on a nearly 3000-year-old mummified remains of an Egyptian noblewoman (Douglas). Leather, wood, and metal have been used to make prosthetics for centuries and many people had to use them. That long ago, there obviously weren’t trained doctors to preform the amputation so the ship’s cook usually did it. The success rate was very low due to unsterile environments and lack of anesthesia but has gradually escalated over

We are all so used to using our limbs, most of us wouldn’t know what to do without them. However, some people, because of accidents or sickness, have lost theirs. Through the use of prosthetics, they can have some of that use back, though it still can’t compare to a real limb. But, recent advancements in robotic prosthetics and a steady increase in capabilities show that prosthetics may eventually be replaced with robotics, and may become just as good as or better than real limbs.

There are two common reasons for limb amputation are trauma and vascular issue. All inclusive, trauma is a noteworthy reason for amputation and it represents roughly 30% of new amputations in created nations (industry and transport related mischances) and significantly more in creating countries with up to 94% new amputations in nations with a current history of war and common turmoil (Lucas, 2004) . Now, with vascular diseases, diabetes and tumors cause roughly 65% of all amputations in industrialized nations. After that, all above knee (transfemoral) amputation is the second most incessant level of amputation (31% of all limb amputation) after under knee (transtibial) amputation (47%).

The very first prosthetic dates back to 300 B.C, this was a long time ago. You may ask, why do people need prosthetics, well if you are in the army and you get hurt then you might need a prosthetic. There are people with robotic prostheses and I think it is really cool to have a robotic arm. People with prosthetic legs and arms can still do things other people can do. People can run, walk, and ride bikes of all kinds.

Prosthetics has always been mingled with the history of soldiers that fought in battles and warfare. The taking of a limb could have resulted from a ceremonial sacrifice, a punishment or a battlefield wound. One of the first examples of a prosthesis that was discovered was a fake big toe dating between 950-710 B.C.E. in Egypt, belonging to a noblewoman. The device was constructed of basic materials, such as wood and metal and held to the body with a leather attachment. John Marshall claims that “the big toe was particularly important to an Egyptian because it was necessary in order to wear the traditional Egyptian sandals” (“The History” 2015). Another view on the prosthetic toe was believed that if a body was not whole during burial