Hot Weather and Prosthetic Devices

Sweat can be a huge issue for people wearing upper limb prosthetic devices. Not only can sweat, and the swelling of skin in hot weather, cause slipping issues, but sweat can also interrupt the electric signals that myoelectric devices need to function. There are a few solutions:

• Antiperspirant isn't just for underarms — many products can be used on other areas of the body. Always check the label and consult your prosthetist or physician, especially if you have sensitive skin.
• For those with more severe sweating, prescription-strength antiperspirants applied before a hot day can be helpful.
• And sometimes, the best solution is simple: take a break — more on that next.

Many of us are so driven by the need to finish the project, the workout, whatever it is that’s making us sweat or keeping us in the sun, that we’ll postpone taking a break. But there’s a lot to be said for knowing your limit and not pushing past it. One is sweating — taking a break can allow the sweat to do its job, namely cool you down, especially if you can take off your device. Two is your skin. For those of you with acquired amputations, the skin on your residual limb may not be as resilient as the rest of your skin. Our patient Gerry, pictured below, is a bilateral amputee caused by an electric accident, meaning he has skin grafts on his arms. Gerry’s current life is full of farm chores and projects. “Even if I’m in the middle of something, I’ll take breaks after lunch to give myself a rest, give my arms a rest — especially in the summer when that sweat and moisture builds up inside the prosthetic sockets, I have to take them off to give the skin a break.” Gerry lives in Illinois, where the humidity can get pretty high and he knows the importance of maintaining good skin.