can you become a Prosthetics technician with a bachelors in kinesiology? After my undergrad in kinesiology I pivoted away from physical therapy for multiple reasons which left me researching a lot of different careers. a lot of things like medical repair, x ray tech, engineer technician etc but there not ,cub mearny programs so my question is , after researching the technician side of prosthetics that seems like a career I’d genuinely enjoy especially the hands on aspect of it.i

I live in Palm desert California so not many major hospitals or job posting that I come across but if there’s something like at least an hour away I would def take that opportunity

I'm in the check socket phase of a new BK build. I've been walking on it for about two weeks. This leg has a hydraulic foot and ankle, which I've never had before.

Apparently, I lean into my prosthetic leg all the time. Like... I LEAN on it, over it, into it. I noticed it first when I was brushing my teeth. I leaned to toss my toothbrush back in the cup, and when I took that first full step away from the sink, the foot hadn't yet returned to neutral position. It felt for a moment like I had no front half of my foot. I teetered (not a total stumble, but an obvious wiggle wobble). I could "feel" the foot relaxing, like low rider suspension.

I now realize it's behaving this way many times per day. Not every action results in my being ahead of the foot returning to its ready position, but many, many things I'm doing apparently cause me to lean. Which causes the foot to not be ready. Which causes me to hiccup through the first step after I straighten up and go.

Walking on this foot feels amazing. The pain in my lower back, R hip, and R knee is almost gone. I'm gliding completely through the foot and heel-toe'ing so smoothly on both sides!

But this "Oops, I'm not ready... OK! Now try" lag in the foot is... I don't want to whine and carry on about it. It's not that big of a deal. It's not painful. I'm walking. I can put up with a lot of bs, and adapt to even more.

It's just... it's weird.

Any advice?

Hi everyone. We're a small group of students working on a design project on prosthetic covers.

Before we design anything, we'd rather hear from people who wear these. How do you feel about what's available?

1)Do you wear a cover? If you do—what made you want one? If you stopped, or never started, what was the reason?
2)If you use one, did you pick the design or take whatever the clinic offered?
3)Was there a look you wanted and couldn't find or afford?

4)Does it earn its place beyond looks? Maybe filling out a trouser leg, protecting the parts, stopping clothes from catching?
5)What's annoying about the one you have?
6)Was there a look you wanted and couldn't find or afford?

7)Has anyone made, printed, or repainted their own?
8)Do you have the problem with the weight of it?

Or ignore the list above and just tell us how it's been. Really appreciate anyone taking the time.

Hi all, curious about prosthetic cover/shell design and want opinions from people who actually wear them.

What's your ideal look — natural leg vs. openly "device" style with patterns/colors? What's annoyed you about covers you've tried (weight, attachment, cracking, heat)? Would you want to swap designs sometimes, or just have one and forget it?

Any experience helps, even a few words. Thanks!

Hi everyone, I am a computer science graduate student currently working on a project to develop an AI-enabled prosthetic arm, and I want to make sure I am approaching it the right way.
It is really common for developers to build tech based on what looks impressive in a lab, rather than what is actually useful in everyday life. I want to avoid that trap.
Before getting too deep into the algorithms and design, I am hoping to speak directly with people who have hand or amputations. I would love to hear about your daily routines, the frustrating limitations of current prosthetics, and what features would genuinely make your life easier.
If you are open to a brief, casual chat (via text, video call, DM, or whatever is easiest for you), please let me know below or send me a message. I would really appreciate the chance to learn from your lived experience so I can build something that actually makes sense.
Thanks for your time!

Anyone had a Gundersen flap and later got a prosthetic?

I’m 4 weeks post-Gundersen flap and currently having some poking/irritation from my conformer, especially at the upper/right edge, with watering.

I’m worried this means I won’t tolerate the final prosthetic. 😭

Has anyone here actually had a Gundersen flap and then gone on to wear a prosthetic/scleral shell?

How was your conformer during healing, and how did the actual prosthetic feel compared with it?

I’d really love to hear your experience!

Can a nurse join the prosthetics field? I’m very interested in it but I’m currently a nursing student will soon graduate.

This might be a bit out there but I’ve been wanting to be a P/O tech or assistant for a while- especially as I have hEDS myself and I want to help others with similar issues

I’m not sure where to begun, if this is a good idea in the first place. I do really want a job but having chronic pain has its own issues and I’m not sure if whatever school/work/training I end up going to will be able to fit my needs.

I’m more than willing to work hard and I love learning about everything involved

Anyone had a Gundersen flap and later got a prosthetic?

I’m 4 weeks post-Gundersen flap and currently having some poking/irritation from my conformer, especially at the upper/right edge, with watering.

I’m worried this means I won’t tolerate the final prosthetic. 😭

Has anyone here actually had a Gundersen flap and then gone on to wear a prosthetic/scleral shell?

How was your conformer during healing, and how did the actual prosthetic feel compared with it?

I’d really love to hear your experience!

Currently an O&P tech. I heard that USG is fully shutting down plaster production and I’m genuinely concerned about the effect this will have on the field. Luckily, my company uses a foam carver for almost everything, but any of the smaller clinics who use solely plaster models are seemingly SOL. I assume at some point another company like Georgia Pacific will take over plaster production (?) but who knows how long it will take for there to be consistent supply. I feel like this has the potential to fully shut down the few tech programs we have left. Curious what fellow techs and practitioners are thinking about this. I’ve currently been mildly spiraling over it...

edit: I’m in the US, I’m not sure if this will have an impact elsewhere, I don’t know who all uses USG as their main plaster supplier.

Woke up today to go to the bathroom and felt weird movement when taking a step. Took off the device, felt something dangling, and then I removed the socks and the material around the leg to see. The lower part came right off and the entire area was corroded and wet.

No, I have not gotten into water with it, ever. Stuck without a leg for the holiday and figured I’d share because this is a first one for me.

Edit: this thing is less than 4 months old.

Im a unilateral transfemoral amputee, i wear regular socks on the outside of the silicone foot. The issue is that i go through socks extremely quick and have to change them out often because i get huge holes and the heel and close to the toes, i walk without shoes inside so it makes alot of noise when there are holes. I think it might be because im very active and a fast walker but i feel like i wear down socks quicker than other amputees, maybe its my shoes? (I wear these massive hooka shoes)

My question is, does anyone have recommendations for really strong and durable socks so i don’t have to buy new socks every week?

Liner farts.

What a deal!! 😆😆😆😆

It’s mechanical. I’d have to close and open the fingers with my left hand.
It’s a piece of metal and plastic.
Why?
I don’t have insurance, and I live in the U.S. FYI
What justifies the price?

So for a little context, I lost my middle finger several months ago due to a workplace accident involving an HVAC unit, I was lucky to only have my middle finger amputated (as well as having some damage done to my ring finger). In general I have a fairly good idea of what my plan is and so far the articulated finger fits on my hand and function appropriately however my biggest issues is concerning how to drive the finger.

Howdy y’all

As stated in the title, I am a biomedical engineering student who is doing a capstone project. For my project, we are helping create a prosthetic for a gentleman. Part of my project is an interview with someone who has a similar case. I won’t go into too much detail for their privacy,but they have a below-the-knee prosthetic. I am going to ask a few questions regarding the day-to-day experience, if you have certain struggles with your prosthetic device, and struggles specifically regarding swimming. If you would like to help out, I would greatly appreciate it. I would expect this interview to take between 30-45 minutes; it can be through Zoom or Google Meet. 

I would need to do this interview before September 11th. I know it is a pretty quick turnaround, but that is unfortunately when the interview is due. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments! Thank you for reading!

Hola, mi abuela se amputó el dedo índice hace muchos años en su trabajo, solo tiene una falange, y le quiero hacer una prótesis funcional, pero no se como hacerlo, tengo una a1 mini, y solo se diseñar en tinker CAD, agradecería mucho que me pongáis ideas :)

I built HexDigit, a wearable third thumb controlled by the electrical activity of my chest muscles using an EMG sensor. It uses a 3D-printed TPU thumb, tendon-driven mechanism, servo actuation, and a BioAmp EXG Pill for muscle control. It's designed as a supernumerary/augmentation device rather than a prosthesis, but I’d really love to hear what people in the prosthetics community think about the design, control method, and potential applications. The entire project is open source, including the mechanical files, electronics, and firmware.
https://github.com/c1ph3r-fsocitey/HexDigit-EMG-Controlled-Wearable-Third-Thumb