How I put on my prosthesis July 27 by Steve
Although I’ve been devoted a bit of writing to how my prosthesis was made, what it feels like, and how it works, I haven’t really explained how I actually put the thing on each morning. So here’s a tutorial on how to put on a leg…
By the way, I also haven’t written much about the variety of styles of prosthetic legs and the suspension systems for keeping them attached to you. I use a roll-on suction socket with silicone liner, but many amputees use another suspension system called supra-condylar suspension. Briefly, you insert your stump (with prosthetic socks on, if needed) into a stiff liner made of Pelite, a foam rubber material. The Pelite liner has wedges on the left and right sides that rest over the condyles of the knee, hence the name supra-condylar. You then insert your stump with the Pelite liner into the socket of the prosthesis, and the supra-condylar wedges lock you into the socket. If anyone out there reading this uses a leg with a Pelite liner and SC suspension, I’d love it if you’d be willing to contribute a tutorial on how to don and doff your leg.
In the meantime, here’s how I put on my leg…
First, I need to turn the silicone liner inside out so I can roll it onto my stump, so I stick one hand inside it and turn it inside out with the other hand. You need to be careful to not use fingernails here as they can tear the silicone.
Then I center the the bottom of the liner on the end of my stump and roll it on. The goal is to end up with the pin exactly centered over the bottom of my stump, so that it will fit right into the lock in the bottom of the socket of the prosthesis. I often have to repeat this step a few times, especially first thing in the morning before I’ve had a cup of coffee.
Here’s what the liner should look like when I’ve rolled it on correctly.
Next, I pull on the prosthetic sock. I poke the liner pin through the hole I’ve cut in the prosthetic sock and pull it on over the liner. If I need more than one sock to fit into the socket correctly, repeat as necessary.
Then I insert my stump into the prosthesis and push down until the pin clicks into the lock in the bottom of the socket. (Some people prefer to use liner pins with a series of ridges, like threads on a screw, because they give you auditory feedback — you can hear the pin go click-click-click into the lock when you step into the leg.) Voila! I’m wearing my leg.
To take it off, I just depress the lock button until it clicks and releases the pin, and then pull my stump out. Stripping off the sock and liner is the reverse as putting them on.
Jennifer Sep 6
Hey Steve! What a great tutorial. I’m an occupational therapist, and when I have patients who are recent amputees, the donning and doffing of the prosthesis is a major area of my treatment. I’m wondering if you’d give me permission to reproduce your tutorial in order to assist my patients.
Thanks!
Jennifer
Sam Oct 30
I am ak amputee, its very different for my amputation !
Mike Apr 24
Steve, I first read your tutorial a couple of months ago, when I was just in the first stages of learning to live without my left lower leg. I lost it do to repeated bone infections. I had no idea at all as to what to expect. I knew virtually nothing about a prosthesis, let alone how to wear it. Your tutorial really helped to put my mind at ease. Well, today will be the first full day for me wearing my new leg. I got it late yesterday afternoon, so I have already had experience “doffing & donning” it. It really is as easy as your tutorial shows. I have a lot to learn yet, and I am not very good at walking yet, but practice & strengthening excercises will help. I wish to assure anyone reading this for the 1st time- “dont’t worry”. it will turn out OK. Thank You for your insightful tutorial.
tee - jay de silva May 23
.,hi! i am also an amputee like you,left below knee to be specific., my problem now is having prosthethis because we are not that rich to afford we that such kind of expensive prosthetic., i want to walk again because i want to finish my studies and also for me to pursue reaching my drems., i hope that someone can help me of having this.., if u are willing of helping me please email me at
teejay_sadsad_desilva@yahoo.com
please!i know that there are people who have a good heart and may god bless you all!!! thank you too all!!!
Hari Handa May 27
I have read the tutorial and this relates to a Silicon Liner with lock. I have, since 1965 been using the PTB with an ordinary cotton sock but with a hard socket. In fact, I felt better with it than a soft socket. Now with age and extensive abrasions, I was advised a Silicon easy liner but without the lock. putting on the easy liner is much of what has been illustrated the only difference being aligning it to the centre. The method being the same. It is quite comfortable and I thank Steve in sharing his fitting method to help others. Only one suggestion to amputees and that is to exercise your amputated stump with weights regularly so that the stump does not shrink
Ernesto Jun 3
I just read your columm and I was very impressed. I received my new leg 5 months ago, and so far I am ok with it, I start going to the gym again, but I love to run and so far I can. My prosthetic leg some day fit ok and so day it feels lose. When I go to the gym all I do is upper body weight lifting, any idea you can give me will be appreciatea. Thanks