Understanding Prosthetics
Prosthetic devices are an invaluable tool in an amputee’s path to recovery, allowing them to return to their daily habits. We utilize state-of-the-art technology to produce a vast array of the highest quality prosthetics and ensure that “Live Life Without Limitations” is both a motto and a reality for all our patients.
Upon arriving at our facility, you will be asked to complete paperwork detailing your relevant medical history and insurance coverage. You will then meet with the facility’s head prosthetist and other A Step Ahead staff members. During this meeting, your functional goals, desired lifestyle, and relevant clinical history will all be discussed so you and your prosthetist can jointly decide on the most appropriate prosthetic components for your needs.
You will also be given a complete tour of our facility during the consultation. This allows you to see how we operate, understand all of the services we provide, and meet our entire team of professionals. You will also be able to meet other amputees and talk with them about their experiences.
In addition to allowing us to learn about you, the consultation allows you to interview us. We encourage you to ask as many questions as you need to get the information you want during the consultation.
During your first appointment, the prosthetist will take a plaster cast of your residual limb. This process normally takes between thirty minutes and one hour. If you are a new amputee, you will be taught how to apply a shrinker and/or an ace bandage to help shape and shrink your residual limb. You will reapply your shrinker or Ace bandage when casting is complete. Remember to keep it on at all times, as it helps the post-operative shrinking and healing process. If you use an Ace bandage, you must remember to reapply it frequently to prevent it from becoming too loose.
Between your casting and your next appointment, our professionals produce a diagnostic socket made of clear, rigid plastic. The prosthetist will place your residual limb in the diagnostic socket while you apply your body weight against it to assess the prosthetic fit. Since the socket is transparent, the prosthetist can see exactly how your residual limb fits inside it. The prosthetist will then make adjustments as needed. This appointment normally takes one hour.
After the diagnostic fitting, the prosthetist will be able to create a prosthetic socket. At your next visit, the prosthetist delivers the finished prosthesis – the socket and components. You will learn how to don and doff (put on and take off) the prosthesis and how to take care of and clean your prosthesis. Your prosthetic alignment is adjusted, and you begin gait training. This visit lasts at least four hours.
For out-of-town patients or local patients with special needs, we can proceed from Consultation to Delivery in twenty-four hours. Typically, however, the time from consultation to delivery of the prosthesis takes place over a two- to three-week period. For patients who must travel long distances, we can arrange local accommodations in a nearby handicapped-accessible hotel.
After the diagnostic fitting, the prosthetist will be able to create a prosthetic socket. At your next visit, the prosthetist delivers the finished prosthesis – the socket and components. You will learn how to don and doff (put on and take off) the prosthesis and how to take care of and clean your prosthesis. Your prosthetic alignment is adjusted, and you begin gait training. This visit lasts at least four hours.
For out-of-town patients or local patients with special needs, we can proceed from Consultation to Delivery in twenty-four hours. Typically, however, the time from consultation to delivery of the prosthesis takes place over a two- to three-week period. For patients who must travel long distances, we can arrange local accommodations in a nearby handicapped-accessible hotel.