A Brief History of Prosthetics

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Prosthetics are artificial limbs designed to replace limbs in the body that have been lost due to disease, injury, or birth defect. The history of the prosthetic dates back to the year 424 B.C (Norton, 2009). During this time the first prosthetic was produced out of bronze and iron, with a wooden core. The prosthetic was made for a below the knee amputee. At first many prosthetics were just hooks given to those with missing hands. In the dark ages (476 to 1000) prosthetics were given to those wounded in battle. In some cases the prosthetics would be a weapon used to replace the missing limb. For example some knights were given prosthetics designed as shields. And also at this time only the rich could afford prosthetics like peg legs for daily use. (Norton, 2009) Prosthetics really began to advance during the renaissance period. During this period an iron prosthetic hand could be manipulated with springs, a leather strap, and your free hand. “The hands could be manipulated by setting them with the natural hand and moved by relaxing a series of releases and springs while being suspended with leather straps.”(Norton, 2007). The main difference in today’s prosthetics compared to those of ancient times is the material used to construct them.
Today’s prosthetics are made of advanced plastics and carbon-fiber composites. (Clements. N.d) the advanced material allows the prosthetics to be much stronger and lighter. Electronics have helped the advancements in prosthetic technology by allowing the prosthetics to be more controllable and adaptable to regular limb movements like gripping for the hand and walking for the foot. There are three main parts to a prosthetic limb. The inner layer of the prosthetic limb is called the pylo...

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...d in battle and their injuries have all types of scenarios. Some soldiers may have gotten their leg blown up in action and others may have gotten an infection and needed an amputation. As a prosthetist it must be very humbling working with the great warriors that serve and protect us just another perk of working as a prosthetist.

Works Cited

Norton, Kim M. "A Brief History of Prosthetics." InMotion:. N.p., Nov.-Dec. 2007. Web. 29 Nov.2013..
Clements, Isaac P. "How Prosthetic Limbs Work." HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2013. .
"Orthotists and Prosthetists." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 29 Mar. 2012. Web. 29 Nov. 2013. .

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