Ray Tegerstrand's
Prosthetics & Orthotics
2445 Athens Avenue
Redding, CA 96001
(530) 241-4040
Services
Suspension
Almost as important as socket fit is the suspension method, i.e. how the prosthesis is attached to the body. A good suspension maintains the socket in snug contact with the residual limb and prevents undesirable sliding, rotation and/or pistoning movement within the socket.
Several suspension options are available:
Total contact pure suction using an expulsion valve, which allows air to
escape from the socket as the residual limb is inserted, creating a
vacuum within the socket.
- Roll-on gel liner fitted with a locking pin, lanyard or strap-and-buckle type attachment device.
- Soft straps or waist belts (TES belt, Silesian band).
- Rigid belt with hip hinge.
Each of these methods works better for some patients than others.
Roll-on liners with a locking pin have become widely used in recent years; however, this method concentrates significant force at the distal end of the residual limb, which some patients cannot tolerate. Alternative locking methods, e.g. a lanyard or buckles, can be an effective alternative.
Pure suction, while difficult to achieve for some amputees, often works
when a locking liner will not. Soft suspension belts and rigid belts with hip hinges are sometimes prescribed for patients who need a high sense of
security that their suspension will hold. Soft belts are often used with a preparatory transfemoral system when residual limb changes preclude suction suspension.
Prosthetic Knees
Selecting the most appropriate knee component involves careful weighing of the amputee's overall health and capabilities, predicted type and intensity of prosthetic use, and cost. We choose from among several basic types:
- A manual locking knee is locked for ambulation, unlocked for sitting. The amputee walks stiff-legged and must swing the leg outward for floor clearance, which is both awkward and energy-consuming. However, this is the most stable choice and is appropriate for limited ambulators.
- Constant friction knees are simple, lightweight and dependable, but they limit the wearer to a single cadence. The friction setting determines the speed of leg swing and is adjusted for the patient's normal walking speed.
- Stance-control, or "safety," knees incorporate a weight-activated brake that prevents knee buckling while in stance phase. This knee is often prescribed for a new amputee's first prosthesis.
We also provide:
- Ankle-foot components
- Alignment
