Re: obese bk
Hekman, E.E.G.
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: obese bk
Creator:
Hekman, E.E.G.
Date:
2/8/2001
Text:
Hi Jessica,
First of all, let me say that I am an engineer, not an O&P-professional.
Part of my job is teaching, part is researching / developing medical
equipment (implants, tools) and prostheses / orthoses. I find that in our
group we are naturally inclined to want to make things (e.g.prostheses) that
will do everything for every user, for instance: the user must be able to
walk at different speeds, on an incline, on steps, rough surfaces; user must
be able to swim, run, cycle; prosthesis must be usable by children and heavy
adults.
However, one of our professors then sometimes says 'perhaps we have to
accept the fact that a person who has received a (BK) amputation may not be
able to function the way a person with two healthy legs would. We have to
strive for the optimum, but the optimum will not be at the level of the
healthy person'. The other day someone asked me what type of orhtosis I
would suggest to restore to a person the full use of his spastic right arm /
hand. I had to tell him that in my opinion no orthosis could do this.
What I am driving at is that perhaps you should consider whether your obese
patient/client can be fitted with a prosthesis at all. I mean, he has the
full right to his own lifestyle including being obese, and perhaps he can
not even help being obese. Does not make him less of a person at all, but it
does mean that he can not do certain things. He can not race on a bike, he
can not drive a small car, can not sit on a narrow bus-seat next to another
person, and perhaps he can not comfortably wear a prosthesis.
I would be interested in your opinion
Edsko Hekman
...........................................................
.Edsko Hekman MSc .
.Laboratory of Biomechanical Engineering .
.Twente University .
.PO box 217 tel. 31-53-4893173 .
.7500AE Enschede fax. 31-53-4893471 .
.The Netherlands .
.e-mail <Email Address Redacted> .
...........................................................
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jessica Eizenberg [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>]
> Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 11:43 PM
> To: <Email Address Redacted>
> Subject: Re: [OANDP-L] obese bk
>
>
> Dear Members:
> I have a 38 year old male who is extremely obese. He is a bk
> amputee. He
> has severe amounts of tissue on his thigh and a very
> atrophied residual limb.
First of all, let me say that I am an engineer, not an O&P-professional.
Part of my job is teaching, part is researching / developing medical
equipment (implants, tools) and prostheses / orthoses. I find that in our
group we are naturally inclined to want to make things (e.g.prostheses) that
will do everything for every user, for instance: the user must be able to
walk at different speeds, on an incline, on steps, rough surfaces; user must
be able to swim, run, cycle; prosthesis must be usable by children and heavy
adults.
However, one of our professors then sometimes says 'perhaps we have to
accept the fact that a person who has received a (BK) amputation may not be
able to function the way a person with two healthy legs would. We have to
strive for the optimum, but the optimum will not be at the level of the
healthy person'. The other day someone asked me what type of orhtosis I
would suggest to restore to a person the full use of his spastic right arm /
hand. I had to tell him that in my opinion no orthosis could do this.
What I am driving at is that perhaps you should consider whether your obese
patient/client can be fitted with a prosthesis at all. I mean, he has the
full right to his own lifestyle including being obese, and perhaps he can
not even help being obese. Does not make him less of a person at all, but it
does mean that he can not do certain things. He can not race on a bike, he
can not drive a small car, can not sit on a narrow bus-seat next to another
person, and perhaps he can not comfortably wear a prosthesis.
I would be interested in your opinion
Edsko Hekman
...........................................................
.Edsko Hekman MSc .
.Laboratory of Biomechanical Engineering .
.Twente University .
.PO box 217 tel. 31-53-4893173 .
.7500AE Enschede fax. 31-53-4893471 .
.The Netherlands .
.e-mail <Email Address Redacted> .
...........................................................
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jessica Eizenberg [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>]
> Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 11:43 PM
> To: <Email Address Redacted>
> Subject: Re: [OANDP-L] obese bk
>
>
> Dear Members:
> I have a 38 year old male who is extremely obese. He is a bk
> amputee. He
> has severe amounts of tissue on his thigh and a very
> atrophied residual limb.
Citation
Hekman, E.E.G., “Re: obese bk,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed May 20, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/215931.
