Have you ever wondered how a prosthetic leg works?

In this article we will be covering how these devices work from a perspective that most people can easily understand.

We will give you some quick bullet points to understand the general process.

Are their counter examples out there?  Sure.  But this is a good overall description of the process.

1.) Control Over Swelling

A prosthetic leg works only when a person has reduced the swelling in their residual limb after surgery.

This is done usually by the use of shrinkers.  A compression garment that flushes water slowly out of the residual limb.

2.) The Use of a Gel Liner

The next part to the process is usually the inclusion of a gel liner.  A person can be cast over this gel liner for the next step in the process or they can be scanned.  Either way the goal is to create a socket for their residual limb.  Sometimes, people are measured and with the use of  computers the gel liner size can be digitally brought into the shape of the socket.

3.) Check Socket

After the casting phase, a check socket is created from the “negative impression” of the cast or from the scan.  Over the gel liner, will then come the check socket which allows the prosthetist to trial the fit with you.  From the socket, either a knee can be attached, or if it is a below the knee prosthesis then a titanium pylon (mimicking the leg) and a prosthetic foot can be added on.  It all depends on the level of amputation.

4.) A Laminated or Graphite Socket  

After the check socket has been determined to fit well a more durable socket is then fabricated, which can take anywhere from 1 day to 2 weeks, depending on your schedule and how good the prosthetic company is at servicing their patients.