Prosthetics and Orthotics-The Basics to Know of
Prosthetics and orthotics is one area of health sciences that is rapidly growing. Geerally, prosthetics and orthotics are two different fields but they happen to be coming together looking at the fact that they both serve the common purpose of rehabilitation. Read on and learn more on prosthetics and orthotics as has been discussed below.
Talking of prosthetics, this is the practice that sees the use of the artificial limbs, otherwise known as prostheses, to help enhance the function and lifestyle of those who happen to be suffering from a case of lost limb. By and large, when it comes to the prosthesis, these should be a unique combination of the appropriate materials, alignment, design and construction in order to make sure that they will be meeting the very functional needs of the person who will be using them.
Added to this, it is to be noted as a fact that the needs for these may as well vary and can be so complex between the lower and the upper limbs. In most cases, the lower limb prostheses will come designed to help with a number of the needs there may be such as stability and motion, shock absorption, cosmetic appearance, help with the athletic activities such as jumping and running, designed as well for energy storage and the like. With the upper limb prostheses, these are the kinds that will be designed to help with the needs served by the upper limbs some of these being reaching and grasping, occupational challenges and needs such as hammering and painting, and much of the daily life activities like eating, dressing and writing.
Looking at the orthotics, these involve a lot of precision and creativity when it comes to the design and the making of the external braces that would be a key component of a patient’s treatment process. Talking of orthoses, ie the external braces, these are designed to help with the control of those parts of the body and regions of the body of a person who may be physically challenged. Orthoses may be used on various parts of the body and some of these would be such as on the lower and upper limbs, on the cranium and as well on the spinal areas of the body. Here are some of the most common kinds of the orthoses you will come across out there; cranial helmets, orthoses for cases of scoliosis, those that are used for serious neck injuries and the like. You may want to add to these the foot orthotics that will be used for the rehabilitation needs for the kids who may be so suffering from cerebral palsy. In the recent past, we have seen a growing number of orthotics coming up that help you with the needs of kids and for these see here.