It’s time to understand what are the different parts of this device. There are four major components in most modern-day prosthetics - socket, knee, pylon, and foot. 
Let’s start with the easier ones first:
​

• Foot: It’s designed to take the shape of your functional leg’s foot. Unless you’re going for a high-end prosthesis, its function is simply to follow the body’s gait.
• Pylon: It’s a light-weight shaft that connects the knee and foot seamlessly. In more recent models, the pylon is adjustable and comes with shock-absorbers.
• Knee: This is an important part that determines the cost of the above knee prosthetics. You can choose a device from the market based on your activity levels and budget. The most straightforward kind of knee is a single-axis one, whereas the most advanced one has microprocessors and offers intelligent sensors.

Socket: In the initial phase, a diagnostic socket is implemented to check the alignment. It’s a plastic socket that is replaced by a laminated one in the later stage. The laminated one is usually made of carbon fiber and has a long life. If everything is in place, you can even get your favorite sports team’s logo embossed on it!

​

​If you’re still reading, you now understand the challenges of using prosthetics. Now that you’re ready to get one, you may be wondering how to take care of them.

Here are eight things you should know as a new prosthetics user:
​
     1. Washing your prosthesis daily is essential. Don’t use anything else apart from mild soap, and give the device enough time to dry. Regularly wiping the insides of the prosthesis will keep it free from bacterial infections.

     2. Prostheses are designed to be worn with shoes. If the heels are not of the same height, it may cause stability issues. You can choose to wear high heels or any other footwear only after informing your intentions to a prosthetist.

     3. Prosthetics socks are an integral part of your life now. Based on your doctor’s
recommendation, you can use a single-ply or multi-ply pair of socks. Ensure they fit perfectly and use the correct number of ply to avoid developing irritations. 

     4. The socket and liner are the root cause of skin infections. Follow the manufacturer’s hygiene instructions to ensure to provide the right kind of care. Importantly, do not try to trim or add pads to the socket since it might compromise the prosthesis’s safety.

     5. In the initial few months, you have to take up many exercises. It will expose your residual limb to many scenarios in a short span. That allows you to adjust to get the perfect fit. Don’t hesitate to ask the prosthetist for multiple changes.

     6. As an above the knee prosthetics user, you should not sleep with your limb on a pillow. You might get a hip flexion contracture, a condition that doesn’t let users straighten their hips. Instead, you can place a pillow between your legs to strengthen the outer thigh muscles.

     7. Always have a handy kit with spare stump socks, antibiotics, and ointments. That will be your emergency stock for when you need a change. Moreover, you’ll be needing different ply socks due to frequent volume changes in your limb.

    8. Periodic follow-ups are a must in the first year of usage. The doctors need to know if your body is accepting the prosthesis without causing any troubles. On the other hand, the prosthetists can make changes to the device if it isn’t comfortable to use.

Many devices and techniques are used to subdue or eliminate Pectus Carinatum. The most common ones are - 

1. External Bracing
It has become a popular method of dealing with Pectus Carinatum in children.

Like orthodontics, your child would be expected to wear a customized brace under their regular clothes. Orthotists recommend that the children wear the brace for at least 14 hours a day.

It’s a less tedious option, but wearing a brace would need regular follow-up sessions. Additionally, your child may need multiple trips to the orthosis center to get the fit right.

2. Surgical Removal
Recent medical advancements make surgery one of the best available options. It’s inevitable in cases where there is discomfort in breathing or a threat to the heart.

While it’s ideal only for children in their teens, the younger ones might also need them if the case is severe. Do note that external braces could be a part of the surgery preparation routine. 

There are two widely-used surgical procedures to treat the condition - 

1. Ravitch Procedure: Is an invasive method that involves making an incision in the chest. After going beneath the chest muscles, the cartilage bones causing the outward growth are removed.
   
   
2. Reverse Nuss Procedure: Developed by Dr. Donald Nuss, a comparatively less-invasive procedure can be completed within two hours. A concave bar made of stainless steel is placed in the chest for around 2-3 years to stabilize the rib cage. Eventually, the protruding bone will go back to a normal position. 
   
   

After surgery, seri-strips might be used to heal the incision areas. Your child might be required to take painkillers during the recovery phase. 

While they can go to school 1-2 weeks after the surgery, strenuous physical activities have to be avoided. So, the little one cannot indulge in sports, run around during recess, or lift heavy books.

Attend all follow-up sessions so that the doctors can give a timely progress report of your child’s health. The postoperative phase may also need physiotherapy therapy for the strengthening of muscles.

3. Plastic Surgery
Instead of a grueling removal or reparation surgery, many take the cosmetic way. Plastic surgery can make the condition less prominent with minimal effort. Moreover, it does not disturb the bone’s natural growth.

Ideally, your child should not have any pre-existing conditions for this procedure to go smoothly.

4. Bodybuilding 
When there is a minor aberration, bulking up or building muscle can do an excellent job of covering the protrusion.

Consult your doctor or a sports medicine specialist to understand if the idea is viable for your child. Remember, your child shouldn’t be taking up hardcore exercises in early adolescence.

5. Yoga
No research establishes Yoga as a viable treatment option. But proponents of the exercise routine claim that Hatha Yoga can help those with Pectus carinatum condition.
​
Either way, Yoga is a harmless option to try. It can improve the flexibility of muscles and increase the breath-capacity of your kids. That, in turn, can help in reducing the usual symptoms of pigeon chest pain.

​

Foot drop is a common symptom that could result from an injury or a serious condition like cerebral palsy, ALS, and other motor-neuron diseases. Usually, it warrants many exercise sessions at a physiotherapist or an orthopedic professional’s place.

But now, a one-stop solution has emerged for all such problems - wearing a foot-drop brace a.k.a. an AFO anklebrace.

Nearly 26% of orthosis users prefer an AFO over any other aid. These braces are finding so many takers due to factors such as convenience, adaptability, and availability.

Before you get one of them for your needs, read till the end to understand what it takes to use an AFO.​