Advanced Arm Dynamics' services include expedited delivery, advanced socket design, occupational and physical therapy, psychological counseling as well as rehabilitation planning, insurance assistance services and expert witness testimony.

Expedited Delivery

Advanced Arm Dynamics understands that patients' success rates improve dramatically the sooner patients receive their prosthesis and training. Therefore, Advanced Arm Dynamics' specialists developed expedited delivery protocols – an innovative approach to patient care, which concentrates on one patient from start to finish without interruption.

Expedited delivery is the cornerstone of Advanced Arm Dynamics' approach to quality prosthetic care. Developed by our specialists, this three-phase process (Interface Phase, Controls Phase and Alignment Phase) focuses on patients during their entire journey with Advanced Arm Dynamics (i.e., a fitting requires 1 – 3 days and patients usually receive their prostheses in 7 – 10 days).

Our program begins with a comprehensive initial assessment involving prosthetists, physicians, occupational therapists and psychologists. The patient and his or her rehabilitation team work together to set functional goals and therapeutic guidelines. During the Interface Phase, an Advanced Arm Dynamics prosthetist creates a prosthetic interface or socket – the foundation of any successful prosthesis. Multiple diagnostic comfortable interfaces and special techniques including friction-free donning socks ensure optimal fit and comfort. (Advanced Arm Dynamics has published several articles reviewing our Interface methodology.)

Upon successful completion of the comfortable Interface Phase, the Controls Phase is initiated. For a myoelectric prosthesis, electrode sites are identified on the patient's residual limb and transferred to the diagnostic interface. Then electrodes are mounted in the diagnostic interface to maximize the patient's EMG signal output. For a body-powered prosthesis, harness, cable and housing are attached to the frame of the prosthesis. The Controls Phase is completed when optimal control and comfort have been achieved.

The Alignment Phase involves fabrication of a rigid frame and attachment of all components with a special focus on orientation of the elbow, hand and/or wrist to maximize function and cosmetic restoration. Once all phases are complete, the expedited prosthesis is finalized and the patient enters the Interim Therapeutic Phase to develop skills and optimal prosthetic function.

Occupational therapy occurs in conjunction with the expedited delivery and continues until all prosthetic phases have been completed. An Advanced Arm Dynamics prosthetist monitors the patient's daily progress in therapy and makes adjustments as needed. This ongoing involvement throughout the therapeutic process allows prosthetic issues to be resolved quickly, maintaining a patient's smooth progress toward his or her functional goals. Often subtle modifications to the expedited prosthesis during this interim period result in significant comfort and functional benefits that are ultimately incorporated in the definitive prosthesis.

Advanced Socket Design

Advanced Arm Dynamics provides advanced socket designs and materials to improve comfort and suspension enabling patients to enjoy enhanced function.

Advanced Arm Dynamics works with the patient to identify one of the six following prosthetic options (could be more than one option):

• No Prosthesis
• Cosmetic Restoration
• Body-powered Prosthesis
• Electrically-powered Prosthesis
• Hybrid Prosthesis
• Activity-Specific Prosthesis

Occupational and Physical Therapy

Occupational therapy is an integral part of Advanced Arm Dynamics' approach to upper-extremity rehabilitation. An occupational therapist will work with each patient to develop a holistic and customized program to best serve the needs of the individual patient. Programs are identified based on professional needs or hobbies and will ensure that each patient reaches the functionality they desire.

Psychological Counseling

Advanced Arm Dynamics' comprehensive assessment and rehabilitation process includes an individual consultation with a licensed psychologist. Through this interview, Advanced Arm Dynamics determines the patient’s unique learning style, which allows us to present training techniques in ways that best suit the patient. The psychological consultation also helps the patient determine whether he/she might benefit from further psychological or medical support in coping with the emotional issues associated with limb loss or other circumstances.

Rehabilitation Planning

Advanced Arm Dynamics provides a tailored rehabilitation plan for each patient that focuses on the patient’s individual goals and work requirements.

Insurance Assistance Services

Advanced Arm Dynamics excels in creating effective justification letters and negotiating for reimbursement while educating the referral source.

Expert Witness Testimony

The specialists at Advanced Arm Dynamics have been sought out to provide expert testimony in several cases concerning upper-extremity rehabilitation. They have served in this capacity on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants, offering honest, unbiased opinions on functional prosthetic outcomes, initial and long-term prosthetic rehabilitation and repair and maintenance schedules. Advanced Arm Dynamics' specialists will often assist legal representation in formulating a reasonable and comprehensive upper-extremity rehabilitation plan for a client.

1. Miguelez, J., “Critical Factors in Electrically-Powered Upper-Extremity Prosthetics”, Journal of Prosthetics & Orthotics (JPO), 2002