When it comes to prosthetic limbs, making sure they fit properly and following a strategic treatment protocol is essential to comfort, performance and lifestyle goals. Getting these steps right is crucial if you’ve lost a limb and want to improve mobility and overall freedom in your everyday life.
While it may not sound like a big deal, an ill-fitting prosthesis can make things worse. In this blog, we’ll give you the information you need to make sure you have the right fit for your prosthetic leg. Let’s make sure that you have a prosthetic limb that boosts your comfort and independence!
Who Benefits From Prosthetic Care
Prosthetic legs can be life-changing, but they’re not suitable for everyone. Here are some factors that make specific people more suitable candidates for prosthetics:
- Specific Goals: People with specific goals, such as returning to work, participating in sports, or simply improving their daily mobility, are often good candidates for prosthetics. If you have clear objectives, this can help guide the customization direction and use of the prosthetic limb.
- Overall Health: If you are in overall good health, meaning you have the physical strength and stamina to participate in prosthetic treatment.
- Residual Limb Condition: The condition of your remaining limb plays a crucial role—a healthy, well-healed residual limb with enough soft tissue to cushion the bone is ideal for fitting a prosthesis.
- Commitment to Rehabilitation: Getting a prosthesis is just the beginning of a treatment journey. If you want to successfully take advantage of a prosthetic leg, you need to commit to ongoing rehabilitation, including physical therapy.
- Activity Level: Prostheses are available for all levels of activity. Having a discussion with your prosthetist during the assessment can ensure your limb is designed to best work with you.
- Mental and Emotional Readiness: You must be ready mentally and emotionally since adjusting to a prosthetic limb can be challenging and takes time. A positive mindset can greatly influence the success of using a prosthesis!
Discuss your goals with a prosthetic professional
Poor-Fitting Prosthesis: What to Look For
Being able to recognize the signs of a poor-fitting prosthesis is important if you want to maintain comfort and function. Common indicators include discomfort at the limb or in different areas of your body, skin irritation, new sounds (like clicking), and changes in your walking. If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s essential to contact your prosthetist for adjustments.
You should also consult your prosthetic team if you lose or gain a substantial amount of weight or have any of these problems.
Get the Right Prosthetic Leg Fit: Elements to Consider
Beyond the Prosthetic Fitting Process
When it comes to prosthetics, one size does not fit all.
At Hodgson’s, we believe in supporting you through the entire process, from pre-surgery to post-amputation and prosthetic fitting. The prosthesis is important but true success comes from the overall plan. Early planning can lead to a better outcome, with a leg that is not only fitted properly to your body but also designed with your goals and lifestyle.
Consulting a prosthetist before your surgery can significantly improve the results, including fit and comfort. Meeting with one of our expert prosthetists before your surgery allows you to guide the plan, understand the treatment process, and set goals and realistic expectations.
After your surgery, you will have a trusted prosthetist to guide you through the entire process. This includes post-surgery assessment, taking precise measurements for your prosthetic limb, implementing treatment, and ongoing evaluation to ensure the best fit and functionality. Our Transparent Treatment protocol follows you beyond the first steps to best possible short, medium and long term results.
Prosthetic Leg Design
When choosing a prosthetic leg, it’s important to understand the different design options available to suit your lifestyle. Prosthetic legs can range from performance-focused mechanical-looking designs to those that are more lifelike.
One common design is called an endoskeletal prosthesis, which features an inner skeletal structure covered by a softer, more natural-looking outer layer. These prosthetics are highly adjustable and offer a wide range of motion, making them comfortable and less cumbersome to wear. Their flexibility and ease of adjustment can be beneficial for everyday activities, ensuring the prosthesis continues to fit well even as your limb changes.
This prosthetic design is one of our most popular among amputees since it’s so comfortable and adaptable.
Socket Fit
The socket is one of the most important parts of your prosthetic leg because it’s what connects to your residual limb. Getting the fit just right is the key to your comfort, support, and stability.
As we mentioned previously, your prosthetist will go through a prosthetic fitting process with you, starting with making a mold of your residual limb. We use either digital scanning or casting to capture the shape just right. The mold is essentially a blueprint that helps create a model of your limb. Around this model, the socket is formed, ensuring it matches the exact shape and contours of your limb.
After making a mold, you’ll go through the testing phase with a diagnostic prosthesis. This step is all about making sure the socket feels comfortable and provides the support you need. Your prosthetist will make adjustments based on how it feels and fits, fine-tuning it until it’s just right.
Fitting a prosthetic socket is a detailed process that often requires several appointments. It can involve numerous steps and adjustments. While you may feel it gets a bit drawn out, taking the time to get the perfect fit is crucial for your long-term comfort and functionality.
At Hodgsons, our prosthetists understand the importance of prosthetic fit and are meticulous when caring for patients. We know that a well-fitted socket not only helps you move more easily and comfortably but also prevents discomfort and potential problems down the line.
Talk to our team to get a properly fitted prosthetic leg that fits that supports you in your everyday activities.
Volume Management
Volume management is all about making sure your prosthetic leg continues to fit well throughout the day. Your residual limb can change size and shape due to things like activity, temperature, and fluid retention. Understanding volume management and how you can use prosthetic socks to keep your prosthesis fitting just right will be invaluable to you once you get your prosthetic limb.
What to Expect: Getting Used to Your Prosthetic Leg
Adjusting to a new prosthesis can definitely be challenging. Knowing what to expect ahead of time can prevent concern and doubt. Let us know if you have any questions along the way.
- Excessive Sweating: This is a common issue for many prosthetic users and can be managed with specialized liners and regular cleaning.
- Weakness in the Residual Limb: At the start of treatment you might experience weakness in your residual limb, our treatment protocol has planned for this and we collaborate with physiotherapists to coordinate exercise whenever possible.
- Phantom Limb Pain: Some individuals experience phantom limb pain, a sensation that the amputated limb is still there. This can be managed with various therapies and medications.
- Changes in Your Leg: As we mentioned, the shape and size of your residual limb can change over time. These changes can be due to factors such as weight fluctuations, muscle shrinking, and swelling. Monitoring these changes and adjusting your prosthesis accordingly is essential for maintaining comfort and function.
When to Contact a Prosthetist
When do you actually need to reach out? It’s a good time to contact your prosthetist if you experience any signs of a poor fit, such as discomfort, skin irritation, or changes in your gait.
Make sure to set up regular check-ups with your prosthetist. They can help address any issues that arise quickly and keeping them from becoming larger problems. When you have a follow up you’re also able to adjust or refit your prosthesis to ensure it remains comfortable and functional.
Get Support from Our Experienced Team
Our experienced team is here to support you throughout your journey with your prosthesis. Our unique treatment protocol has been designed to consider every stage of treatment as part of an overall plan. From initial fittings to ongoing adjustments and improvements, we are committed to helping you achieve the best possible fit and functionality. Contact the Hodgson team today to learn more about how we can help you.
