Bionic hands, prosthetic legs, and rehabilitation therapy

Life is hard for people who have undergone hand and leg amputations. Without hands to “keep things in order” and feet to “go about doing business,” daily routines will never be as normal as how they used to be. Fortunately, prostheses exist to provide amputees their newfound function and independence.

Video Source: cnn.com

One of the latest developments in prostheses is the i-limb ultra prosthetic hands. More commonly known as bionic hands, the technology uses unique biosim software that enables movement akin to natural hands, including the ability of each finger to bend at the natural joints to precisely fit around the shape of objects. Among the hand amputees who use this technology is Aimee Copeland, a woman who was infected with flesh-eating bacteria. Her hands had to be cut in order to stop the spread of infection, but she can now groom her hair, chop vegetables, and pick up tiny items with the help of her artificial hands.

Image Source: touchbionics.com

Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorious is one of the famous people who don prosthetic legs. The sprint runner, whose legs were amputated when he was 11 months old, competes in sprint running events for amputees and able-bodied athletes using his lightning-fast prosthetic legs. He is known as the “Blade Runner” who runs on carbon-fibre prosthetics called the “Flex-Foot Cheetah.”

Image Source: ubergizmo.com

Bionic hands and prosthetic legs are just two of the many prostheses that help amputees grasp, stabilize, and maneuver objects just like normal people. In physical and rehabilitation medicine, prostheses function as support to help patients recover from medical treatments and improve their quality of life. The Amputee Coalition of America emphasizes the role of physiatry in improving the physical and emotional well-being of amputees. Physiatrists, like Dr. Mary Kneiser, can also prescribe the right prosthesis and rehabilitation services for amputees.


Visit this Facebook page to learn how a physiatrist can help patients recover from amputations.