Prosthetics
Glossary of terms
Please see below for our glossary of terms.
Let us know if you would like us to add any terms and definitions to our glossary by using our contact form.
- ALAC (Artificial Limb and Appliance Centre)
- Alignment
- Amputation
- Amputee
- Bilateral
- Cardio-vascular disease
- Chiropodist
- Congenital absence
- Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine
- Consultation
- Contracture
- Cosmesis
- Cosmetic glove
- Counsellor
- Dermatitis
- Diabetes
- Distal
- Doff
- Don
- DSC
- Femurette
- Folliculitis
- Forequarter
- Gait Training
- Health Professional
- HPC Health Professions Council
- Hemi–pelvectomy
- Hip Disarticulation
- Interface Component
- Interface Liner
- Lower Extremity
- Myoelectric Prosthesis
- Occupational Therapist (OT)
- Oedema
- Paediatrics
- Patella
- Physiotherapist
- Pistoning
- Plaster cast
- Podiatrist
- Postal repair
- PPAM aid
- Prosthesis
- Prosthetic delivery
- Prosthetic fitting
- Prosthetist
- PVD - Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Rehabilitation
- Residual limb
- Residuum
- Sebaceous Cysts
- Shoulder Disarticulation
- Socket
- Specialist Nurse
- Specialist Rehabilitation Centre
- SR Pros/Orth - State Registered Prosthetist / Orthotist.
- Stump socks
- Suction
- Therapy
- Total Contact
- Upper Extremity
- Voluntary control
Definitions
- ALAC (Artificial Limb and Appliance Centre)
Traditional name given to The Rehabilitation Centre
back to top - Alignment
Positioning of the socket in relation to the other components. Optimised at fitting stage for efficient walking. When applied to an arm, optimised to maintain suspension and provide the most natural angle for the arm to rest in.
back to top - Amputation
Removal of all or part of a limb
back to top - Amputee
A person who has had all or part of their limb(s) removed or is born without a limb
back to top - Bilateral
Both sides i.e. left and right
back to top - Cardio-vascular disease
Underlying medical conditions affecting your heart and circulation systems
back to top - Chiropodist
A clinician who will specifically monitor and maintain your feet
back to top - Congenital absence
Absence or partial absence of limbs due to altered development within the womb
back to top - Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine
A medical doctor who will deal with all aspects of your rehabilitation for you developing independence within your life
back to top - Consultation
A meeting with your health professional to discuss medical history, goals you wish to reach and a plan for the future
back to top - Contracture
A restriction in the movement of a joint so the full range is not available
back to top - Cosmesis
A foam covering moulded over a leg to provide a shape near to that of your remaining leg. Over this, a fabric or silicone cover may be fitted
back to top - Cosmetic glove
A covering that fits over the forearm and hand of an artificial arm. A PVC glove is more hard wearing but is more difficult to keep clean. A silicone glove is easier to clean but tends to tear more easily.
back to top - Counsellor
A health professional trained to speak with you to help you deal specifically with worries related to or raised by your amputation
back to top - Dermatitis
A skin reaction, usually from contact with a foreign substance. If the skin breaks, there is a risk of ensuing infection
back to top - Diabetes
An underlying condition which affects your small vessel circulation, healing and sensation as well as your glucose levels
back to top - Distal
Nearest the cut end of the residuum
back to top - Doff
Removing the prosthesis
back to top - Don
Putting on the prosthesis
back to top - DSC
Disablement Services Centre – may now be named a Rehabilitation Centre
back to top - Femurette
An early walking aid, used in physiotherapy for a trans-femoral amputee
back to top - Folliculitis
A skin reaction which results in painful lumps under the skin in areas of pressure or rubbing
back to top - Forequarter
Amputation of the whole arm and the shoulder girdle, leaving the ribs intact
back to top - Gait Training
Learning to walk in the most efficient and natural manner
back to top - Health Professional
back to top - HPC Health Professions Council
All practicing Prosthetists must be registered with the HPC
back to top - Hemi–pelvectomy
Amputation of the whole leg and the related side of the pelvis
back to top - Hip Disarticulation
Amputation of the whole leg, separated at the hip joint
back to top - Interface Component
A product which is used between your skin and the prosthesis
back to top - Interface Liner
Frequently a moulded silicone, gel or urethane product which can be utilised for suspension and/or cushioning of the residuum
back to top - Lower Extremity
Lower limb
back to top - Myoelectric Prosthesis
An artificial arm where function of the hand, wrist and/or elbow is controlled by signals from the remaining muscles in your arm. The function is then powered by a battery, inset into the arm.
back to top - Occupational Therapist (OT)
A health professional trained to assess your home situation and difficulties with independence and review aids. Also involved with paediatric users, to advise on issues with mobility and dexterity at school.
back to top - Oedema
A collection of fluid within the body tissues, resulting in swelling
back to top - Paediatrics
Children / younger users
back to top - Patella
Knee cap
back to top - Physiotherapist
A health professional who provides therapeutic exercises prior to receipt of a prosthesis, utilises walking aids to mobilise to prepare for provision of a prosthesis and training with the prosthesis once received
back to top - Pistoning
Where the residuum moves up and down within the socket during gait
back to top - Plaster cast
The Prosthetist will wrap wet plaster bandages around your residuum create a mould. This is used to make a socket into which your residuum will fit.
back to top - Podiatrist
A health professional trained to care for your feet.
back to top - Postal repair
A service provided by the Rehabilitation Centre. You can arrange with the centre to have your limb collected, repaired then returned to you without attending the centre yourself. This may take a number of weeks, depending on urgency.
back to top - PPAM aid
An early walking aid, used in physio to reduce swelling and increase mobility
back to top - Prosthesis
An artificial limb
back to top - Prosthetic delivery
An appointment where you attend to check all is satisfactory prior to taking your limb home.
back to top - Prosthetic fitting
An appointment where you trial your artificial limb for comfort and ease of control. Adjustments to the length and for shoes are made at this stage
back to top - Prosthetist
The health professional who designs and fits your prosthesis
back to top - PVD - Peripheral Vascular Disease
disease of the blood vessels affecting circulation from a variety of causes
back to top - Rehabilitation
Your planned return to daily functional independence
back to top - Residual limb
The section of your limb remaining after amputation, commonly termed a “stump”
back to top - Residuum
See 'residual limb', above
back to top - Sebaceous Cysts
Skin problem where fat deposits collect, often in hair follicles, commonly from pressure or rubbing over a local area
back to top - Shoulder Disarticulation
Complete removal of the arm at the shoulder joint
back to top - Socket
The custom made container of the limb in which your residuum fits
back to top - Specialist Nurse
Nurse who works at the rehabilitation centre and specialises in the particular skin problems and wound care, related to prosthetics
back to top - Specialist Rehabilitation Centre
A centralised unit with a full range of health professionals working within the field of prosthetics. Your treatment will be coordinated from here.
back to top - SR Pros/Orth - State Registered Prosthetist / Orthotist.
A Prosthetist and/or Orthotist registered with the HPC and so entitled to legally practice
back to top - Stump socks
Fabric interface supplied by the rehab centre. There are different lengths and thicknesses available. Gel impregnated socks may be provided in some instances
back to top - Suction
A method of suspension to attach the limb without straps. Suction may bedirect to the skin with a tighter socket or using a silicone or polymer interface with a one way valve or a suspension sleeve to maintain negative pressure within the socket
back to top - Therapy
Training to maximise independence and efficient function in daily life
back to top - Total Contact
Contact of the residuum with the socket at all points
back to top - Upper Extremity
Upper limb
back to top - Voluntary control
Controlling the movement of parts of a prosthesis using the remainder of your body
back to top
