Prosthetic Checkup: The Value of Getting a Prosthetist Assessment

Prosthetic Checkup: The Value of Visiting Your Prosthetist for an Assessment

To confirm your prosthesis is working properly, Human Technology P&O suggests undergoing a prosthetic checkup every six months. This will help ensure that the device is performing correctly, that you are comfortable wearing it, and that you are achieving quality results.

During the checkup, your Human Technology practitioner will…

Check your alignment, making sure it fits your natural position. If not properly aligned, the body compensates, which may lead to stress on muscles and joints. This could cause difficulty walking and may lead to complications.
Determine if components should be repaired or replaced due to moisture, dust, dirt, or other contaminants.
Assess whether new liners or socks are needed, as they can stretch over time. Stretching can cause liners to lose contact with the skin, resulting in a bad fit, or the prosthesis can slip off the residual limb. Keep in mind that liners should be replaced every six to nine months. Socks can become stretched and thin, leading to wearing additional socks. Your practitioner will evaluate and explain if a different ply or material choice is required.
Measure the socket’s fit and comfort. If the socket is not secure against the residual limb, movement may cause pain, sores, and blisters, impacting mobility. Socket replacement may be necessary if you have gained or lost weight, experienced volume gain or loss, or the size and shape of the residual limb changed. The socket can often be adjusted to alleviate the issue, but a new socket may have to be prescribed.
Inspect your residual limb for signs of stress or wear, suggesting treatment options if required.

It’s important to have your prosthetist re-evaluate if there are changes in your activity level, weight gain or loss of 10 or more pounds, further residual limb surgeries, or if your prosthesis doesn’t feel as it did previously.

If it’s been more than six months since your prosthetic checkup, contact us to make an appointment. Our objective is to have our patients wear their prostheses securely and to ambulate as well as possible.