The human spirit is one that doesn’t give up easily. In the past, those with prosthetic and orthotic devices were severely limited in what they could accomplish with their physical bodies. This didn’t stop many of them from accomplishing their goals but with modern advances, these brave amputees now have more options in how they can function in everyday life. Many are even choosing to participate in extreme sports such as ice climbing, running, and activities that in the past would have been off-limits to them.
With the one year anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing and the release of Jeff Bauman ’s (with writer Jeff Witter) new book, ‘Stronger, ‘ modern prosthetic devices, and the physical therapists who train and fit amputees with them, are receiving a great deal of attention and media coverage. Because of the $100,000 price tag of modern prosthetic devices, foundations such as Wiggle Your Toes have sprung up to help amputees raise funds and be able to afford these technologically advanced prosthetics.
Although research and development is still ongoing, the recent years have seen a great deal of advances in prosthetics devices. The following factors have helped to bring prosthetics into a whole new era of effectiveness as well as new heights of understanding what these types of devices can do to improve the quality of life for amputees of every age and activity level.
Patient Input
What better person to ask about creating a better prosthetic device than the people who wear them? The industry has begun to take into serious consideration the input of those who live with these devices on a daily basis instead of relying on projections done in a laboratory or in single case studies. As the patients begin to take on more challenging tasks, their input becomes more valuable.
Clinical Expertise
Research is the foundation for these improvements and while case studies are an integral part of the process, there is a great deal of research that goes into their very creation. From the materials used to their size and durability, the studies completed before the devices are tested will determine if they are ever introduced to the public for physical testing. The newest devices are incorporating technologies that withstand extreme elements such as weather and terrain.
Best Evidence
After the prosthetics and orthotic devices are created, their effectiveness is tested and the positive aspects are kept while the negatives are minimized. Some may be better designed for extreme sports while others will help a patient maintain an overall high activity level. Depending on their individual needs, a patient’s choices for prosthetics are increasing with the evidence gathered from these studies.
There is a great need for research to be done on these types of medical devices. When someone loses a limb or maybe struggles with mobility in a joint, their life will change and it may be something as simple as going down the stairs. In the past, many devices would focus on climbing the stairs but going down was not a focus; but that is changing. Soon, there will be the same type of selection when it comes to prosthetics that patients now enjoy when choosing a wheelchair or specialty bicycle.
PT Solutions is dedicated to bringing your patients the best Physical Therapists in MI available through their top-notch candidate placement. If you want to join forces with a company that stays current on these new PT technologies, contact PT Solutions today!
