Despite major achievements and advances in upper-limb prosthetics technology during that past half-century, a high number of upper-limb amputees have generally decided to live prosthesis free relative to lower-limb amputees. On face value, this is relatively straightforward to understand as – unlike lower-limb amputees who require a prosthesis for walking – upper-limb amputees can generally function pretty well without one. There are also notable drawbacks to wearing an upper-limb prosthesis, including sweating, heat rashes, blisters, contact dermatitis, ingrown hairs, bacteria infections and abrasions. Beyond that, many have been faced with how inadequate their prosthetic hand has been relative to a real human hand, which is a tremendously complex body part and therefore difficult to mimic, and have opted to live unimpeded by a cumbersome prosthesis as a result.
Thankfully for upper-limb amputees, never have technologies been more useful or better able to mimic a real human arm and hand than what is currently available. As opposed to the less-effective and unrealistic prosthetics of yesteryear, today’s incarnations look brilliant cosmetically, and they add real value to the lives of upper-limb amputees by making Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) achievable and also allow for more freedom and the ability to participate in the activities and hobbies they love most. Beyond the way in which innovations in upper-limb prosthetics have opened up the world to amputees, wearing a prosthetic mitigates the frequency and severity of phantom limb and lessens the likelihood of developing tendinitis, bursitis and arthritis by having to overwork one’s intact limb. We believe the medical community is standing on the threshold of even further innovation that will make life for upper-limb amputees even more seamless and amazing than ever before. We invite you to continue reading to see the miraculous prosthetics that exist today that will put your own life back in your hands.
Innovations in Below-Elbow Prosthetics
Recent innovations in below-elbow prosthetics evoke not only the Terminator movies, but also Luke Skywalker’s life-like bionic hand as seen in Star Wars – The Empire Strikes Back. What these prosthetics hands can do is amazing by any standard, as they make a range of ADLs extremely achievable and let wearers participate in both active and intense activities and exercise. The real difference maker that has allowed today’s cutting-edge prosthetic hands to offer so much to their wearer and mimic a real hand so accurately is that they are myoelectric-controlled, meaning they are powered, moved and negotiated through the electrical signals generated by the wearer’s muscles. The aptly named Michelangelo Hand is a fully articulated robotic hand prosthesis and is the first to feature an electronically operated thumb that beautifully mimics natural human hand movements. It allows the wearer the freedom perform a range of delicate every day tasks, such as gardening, tying shoelaces, operating tools and far more through holding, gripping and pinching motions. Another stunning innovation that boasts being ‘the world’s most lifelike bionic hand’ is the Bebionic Hand. Through its individually motored fingers, powerful microprocessors and auto grip it offers 14 different grip patterns to allow wearers to do pretty much anything an average day might throw at them. TheBebionic Hand is made to handle up to 100 pounds which means that wearers can enjoy unprecedented levels of freedom in their domestic, working and sporting lives.
Innovations in Above-Elbow Prosthetics
The DynamicArmElbow prosthesis by Ottobock has been a real game-changer for above-elbow amputees. It is not just cosmetically pleasing and natural looking – it is built to allow wearers to use it in their active lives. The DynamicArm is myoelectric-controlled and allows wearers to both flex and extend the elbow and to carry up to 11 pounds while in motion and 50 pounds while static. The attached hand is the fastest available for above-elbow prosthetics and can open and close nearly 3 times faster than other hands. The wrist can also twist and turn through the myoelectric-sensors. The DynamicArm provides for a natural all-around experience, makes a range of ADLs possible and lets wearers seamlessly participates in activities that would not have been possible through previous generations of above-elbow prosthetics.
There been major innovations in upper-limb prosthetics in recent years and we expect technologies to become even more exciting, useful and capable of catalyzing amputees to a happy, healthy and active life filled with doing the things they love most. If you would like to speak about the latest developments in upper-limb prosthetics, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the team at the Mount Sinai Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at(212) 241-6321.
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