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Upper Limb Prosthetic Rehabilitation for Occupational Therapists: Understanding Technology

Upper Limb Prosthetic Rehabilitation for Occupational Therapists: Understanding Technology
Debra Latour, OTD, M.Ed. Advanced Practice of Occupational Therapy, OTR/L
September 30, 2015
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The Hand

As we talk about technology, what are we comparing it to? We are talking about upper limb technology and comparing it to the function of the hand. Take a second and look down at your own hands. As I am looking at mine, I can see that they are very different. I use these together in space but when I consider the function of my left hand, I notice that it is very complicated, multifunctional, and I have got at least 27 of degrees of freedom. This hand is capable of active function and can generate high forces, but it is also capable of passive function. It can resist high loads and I can use it for weight bearing. My hand is soft and it is soft to the touch. I use it to hold the objects and to hold my husband's hand or to embrace my grandchildren, but it also consists of hard structures that are necessary for the essential function of the hand. It consists of muscle and bone. With all of this and so much more, the hand is very challenging to replicate with one single piece of technology. Think about all the different things that you do with your hands and that you expect your patients to be able to do. Typically no single prosthesis can actually address the multiple deficits associated with upper limb loss. 

Technology Options

What technology options are available to address amputation? One option is always no technology. Another option is prepatory technology. Preparatory technology is essential to our clients' success so we may utilize preliminary devices, socket fittings, and things that we can actually fabricate out of common articles in our clinic to help our patients prepare for the use of a prosthesis. Some of our patients will use passive aesthetic functional technology and some will use activity specific technology. Some of our patients will use body-power technology and some will use technology that is externally powered or powered by a source outside of our human bodies. Finally, some patients may use hybrid technologies, which is a little bit of everything encapsulated in one prosthesis.

 

debra latour

Debra Latour, OTD, M.Ed. Advanced Practice of Occupational Therapy, OTR/L

Dr. Debra Latour, OTD, M.Ed., OTR/L is a registered occupational therapist and owner of Single-Handed Solutions, LLC, providing clinical, educational, and research consulting services to manufacturers, providers, and individuals with upper limb loss/difference. She offers clinical interventions through her affiliation with Handspring Clinical Service.   Debi graduated from BSOT/Tufts University and earned her M.Ed. (Advanced Practice OT) from Springfield College and post-professional OTD at A.T. Still University. She is a full-time academic faculty at Western New England University.  Debi is active with the Amputee Coalition and is a member of ACPOC, AAOP, ATA, and AOTA. Debi has a congenital upper limb difference, is an active prosthesis-user and shares her experiences and tips through her blog at www.Single-HandedSolutions.blogspot.com. She is the inventor of record of patented prosthetic technology, and has authored published articles and chapters in occupational therapy text books, as well as copyrighted educational materials distributed by ContinuEd and MedBridge. Debi has consulted with Scholastic Books as a sensitivity reader for diverse publications, was mentioned in the book “Inventology” (by Pagan Kennedy), and is a subject in the “We Design” exhibit of Design Museum, that opened October 3 in Boston, MA.



Related Courses

Current Topics in Upper Limb Loss and Difference: Unlimbited Wellness and Secondary Conditions
Presented by Debra Latour, OTD, M.Ed. Advanced Practice of Occupational Therapy, OTR/L
Video
Course: #4477Level: Advanced1 Hour
Individuals with upper limb loss/difference (ULL/D) are likely to encounter secondary conditions that include pain, overuse and perceptions of isolation, and social stigma often require specialized services, including occupational therapy that may be difficult to access. Today’s course highlights the development, implementation, and evaluation of a telehealth program that offered preventive information, strategies, and peer interaction. This course is Day 1 of the virtual conference: Current Topics in Upper Limb Loss and Difference.

Bilateral Tasks: One Hand Versus Body-Powered Prosthesis
Presented by Debra Latour, OT, PP-OTD, MEd, OTR
Video
Course: #6097Level: Advanced1 Hour
Completing common bilateral tasks using one hand and a body-powered prosthesis will be reviewed in part 1 of this upper extremity series.

Teaching Bilateral Tasks: Prosthesis Simulator
Presented by Debra Latour, OT, PP-OTD, MEd, OTR
Video
Course: #6098Level: Advanced1 Hour
Completing common bilateral tasks using one hand and a prosthesis simulator will be reviewed in part 2 of this upper extremity series.

Bilateral Tasks: One Hand Versus Externally-Powered Prosthesis
Presented by Debra Latour, OT, PP-OTD, MEd, OTR
Video
Course: #6104Level: Advanced1 Hour
Completing common bilateral tasks using one hand and an externally-powered prosthesis will be reviewed in part 3 of this upper extremity series.

Bilateral Tasks: One Hand Versus Static Prosthesis
Presented by Debra Latour, OT, PP-OTD, MEd, OTR
Video
Course: #6105Level: Advanced1 Hour
Completing common bilateral tasks using one hand and a static prosthesis will be reviewed in part 4 of this upper extremity series.

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