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The Minimalist Guide to understanding your artifical Limb

Artificial limbs have been a great help, for amputees and people with various disabilities of the limb. But there is a general misunderstand, of how to pick the right artificial limb for an amputee. Most people think it’s a one off solution, they fail to understand that this is a new tool, that one has to learn to work with. Some experts have said that it is better for an amputee, to see and imagine the benefits of the artificial limb before its fitted.

He or her has to understand that for the tool to become efficient and effective, the user has to learn and train to use it.
There are other factors to consider before using a prosthetic such as Mobility and Comfort.

These two factors tend to be constantly ignored, when purchasing and fitting artificial limbs for patients Nigeria.

The question of whether he/she is comfortable with the new limb.

The question of what type of mobility does the patient require.

These two must be first considered.

Does the patient want something for slow movement and overcoming obstacles, common among st the elderly, or would want to be able to return to his active life is constantly overlooked by the providers of the limbs and doctors recommending them.

In Nigeria the choice most time is to provide a cosmetic solution not a functional one. Cases of patients with lower limb prosthetics, that they cannot make use of them are many. The cause of this is lack of information on the part of those providing these limb and the patients alike.

The need for a mobility grade scale is needed for patients and doctors in Nigeria to help determine what kind of prosthetics/artificial limb is need for lower limb amputees. This can be worked on, by prosthetic and orthotic technicians and physiotherapists to help move patients from one scale to another there by gradually helping do more with their artificial legs.

The current Mobility scales used in developed countries range from.

M1- The Indoor Walker
One who needs to get from the bed to a chair.

M2-The Restricted Outdoor Walker.
One who needs to walk for short distances with no obstacles to climb

M3-The Unrestricted Outdoor Walker.
One who needs to be on his feet constantly with few obstacles to climb

M4-The Unrestricted Outdoor Walker with Especially Rigorous Demands.
One who involved in rigorous work and sports.

The Mobility scales also helps determine the best prosthetic for a patients weight class. As weight is another determining factor to the type of lower limb prosthetics a patient can use.

https://artificallimbsnigeria.wordpress.com/2015/07/15/the-minimalist-guide-to-understanding-your-artifical-limb/
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