Wrists may not be the first thing people think of when it comes to arms. But prosthetic wrists are critical to prepositioning — that is, changing the angle of the terminal device so that it can best perform the next task. After an amputation, the wrist is a key component the user must learn to move or preposition. That’s exactly what Jason Koger does in this video so that he can start his riding lawn mower:

As Jason says in the video, “The key to success, in my opinion, is positioning. Positioning is a huge factor in everything you do.” This goes double for Jason as a bilateral amputee, but it’s crucial for anyone with a limb difference above the wrist. A wrist component makes it easier to complete tasks and helps reduce poor body mechanics, keeping overuse issues to a minimum.

Several different prosthesis manufacturers make wrists including Fillauer and Ottobock. Some wrists allow for moving the wrist down and back (flexion and extension) while others allow for rotation of the terminal device (supination and pronation). Some allow for side-to-side movement (ulnar and radial deviation) while others allow for a combination of these movements. 

Wrists can be especially important to people with a prosthetic elbow or who have limited bending ability in their elbow. That’s the case for our patient Gerry Kinney, who was electrocuted while working as a lineman and uses wrist flexion units with his body-powered devices. Without the wrists, Gerry has to overextend his shoulders and back to get through his activities of daily living (ADLs). Watch Gerry discuss the benefits of his wrists in the video below:

Do you think that a wrist unit could make your daily tasks easier? Do you think it might help with any overuse pain you’ve experienced? We would be happy to discuss the benefits of a wrist component for your device with you. Our clinical team is available for complimentary consultations, either in-person or via video. Please contact us to request a consultation. Do you have experience with wrist units? We would love to hear about it in the comment section below. Thanks for reading!

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