The History of Prosthetics

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I became interested in learning more about the history of prosthetics after my grandma had her right leg amputated twice. The first time from below the knee and then a couple weeks later the second time above her knee, 5 years ago after the circulation throughout her limbs started to deteriorate.
And then again after seeing Oscar Pistorius compete in this past summers, 2012 Olympic games in London. Oscar has had both legs amputated for 25 years now, after making the final decision to amputate both of his legs below the knee, when he was 11 months old, due to the fact that he had been born with an absent fibulae in both of his lower legs.
The history of prosthetics goes way back to the fifth egyptian dynasty(2750-2625 B.C.) The earliest known written reference to a prosthetic limb was made around 500B.C. Herodotus wrote of a prisoner who escaped from his chains by cutting off his own foot which later was replaced with a wooden peg. A prosthetic limb dating back to 300B.C., was a copper and wood leg unearthed at Capri, Italy in 1858.(2)
In 1529 french surgeon, Ambroise Pare introduced the amputation as a lifesaving medical advancement. In 1863, Dubois L. Parmelee made an improvement to tue attachment of a prosthetic limb by fastening a body socket to the limb with atmospheric pressure. In 1898 Dr. Vanghetti invented an artificial limb through muscle contraction. In 1946 a major advancement was created. A suction sock for the above-knee prosthesis was created at the University of California at Berkeley.(2) During the 1950's the need for better limb controls became more popular after World War II with the huge spurt in young active amputees. Brian Blatchford developed resources concentrated on a new knee that would stabilize while bearing weight but also swing freely during walking. In 1975 Ysidro Martinez began to make an improved model of a below the knee prosthesis. And in modern day, 21 century, prosthetics are commonly known to be made from plastic and fiber glass. Some can also be controlled electronically.(1)
This here is a sneak peak of the history of prosthetics, and how they came to be.

(1) http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/the-history-of-prosthetics-then-to-now 

(2) http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blprosthetic.htm 

Prosthesis

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Also known as “donning” prosthesis is a commonly known type of replacement or artificial body limb of a former limb. When one is beginning the process of being fitted for a prosthetic he or she would begin by having measurements taken. If possible the prosthetist might begin taking measurements before the amputation of the limb. The doctor and prosthetist also might meet before surgery to discuss last minute details about the operation. Several weeks after surgery and after the wound has healed and the swelling has gone down a plaster mold is taken of what is left of the limb. This mold is then used as a template to test the fit of the prosthetic limb as the actual prosthetic is being built. Also while manufacturing the final prosthetic doctors tend to pay close attention to the structures of the patients residual limb. Including the locations of any muscles, tendons, bones, and the condition of the patients skin. Physical therapy after an amputation and fitting of a prosthetic device is extremely important. Therapy might focus on using your new prosthetic in everyday activities. Close attention is taken to the interface between the patients residing limb and his or her prosthetic socket especially since, on average prosthetic devices have a lifespan of about 3 years. After an amputation, a patients limb will typically shrink over the next several months as swelling goes down and muscle begins to either build or shrink from lack of use. it is possible that a new prosthetic limb may be made to fit the current size of the limb. A prosthetic must also work extremely closely with children due to the fact that they are slowly growing and changing size.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/prosthetic-limb3.htm 

Pistorius' Passion

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Brainy Quotes references that:

Pistorius once said "I want to wake up every day and feel that I'm training harder, that I'm dieting harder, that I'm recovering better. That's is what gives me confidence when I'm lining up on the blocks. I've never gone out to prove people wrong. I just want to be the best that i can possibly be." 

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/o/oscar_pistorius.html 

Oscar Pistorius is a well known Paralympic runner. When he was 11 months old he had both legs amputated below the knee after being born with an absent fibulae in both of his lower legs. Oscars most recent accomplishment was being able to be the first amputee to have the opportunity to run in both the Paralympics and the olympics after passionately fighting for 6 years to be able to run in the 2012 summer olympic games in London.he had the privilege to run in the 400 meter dash, and was able to take 2nd in his preliminary heat with a time of 45.44 seconds. Qualifying him for semifinals, where Pistorius took last with a time of 46.54 seconds. Oscar is no ordinary athlete after finishing with a smile on his face.

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/o/oscar_pistorius.html

http://www.infoplease.com/biography/var/oscarpistorius.html

Oscars Opportunities

http://www.oscarpistorius.com/

Oscar growing up as a young boy with both legs amputees, he soon discovered his passion for sports. After partaking in rugby, water polo, and tennis in high school he was introduced to track and field after a serious rugby knee injury in June 2003. After undergoing rehabilitation at the University of Pretoria's High Performance Centre he was introduced to his new found passion of running as a double legged amputee from below the knee. Pistorius founded growing up, sooner than later and once said, that "You are not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have."(2) When oscar was younger he got 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 tattooed on his left shoulder blade. It reads as follows "Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached it to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (1)He decided to get it one night during a visit to New York after not being able to sleep one night. He says he took the subway uptown and just walked round for awhile after finding himself in a tattoo parlor. Pistorius said "some Puerto Rican guy did it. It took from 2am to about 8:30am. I think he was falling asleep after a while, which is why it's a little squiggly at the bottom. But I like it that way. To me, it makes it look more authentic."

(1) http://www.athleteslivehere.com/blog/2012/08/qualifying-for-more-than-gold-oscar-pistorious/
(2) http://delanasworld.wordpress.com/tag/oscar-pistorius/

Oscars Obstacles

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 Known as the "fastest man without legs," Oscar Pistorius is a well known South African Blade Runner. Pistorius is a world champion sprinter who has broken his own world record some thirty times, and is a four-time Paralympic champion. During this summers 2012 Olympic games in London, he became the first differently-abled athlete to compete in both the Paralympics and Olympics in the 400m dash. Finishing second with a time of 45.44 seconds in his preliminary heat during this years 2012 summer Olympics.
Growing up Oscar had both legs amputated when he was just 11 months old after being born with Fibular Hemimelia, which is a congenital absence of the fibula, in both legs. Oscar was born on November 22, 1986 in Sandton, Johannesburg South Africa to Henke and Sheila Pistorius. He grew up in a Christian home, and has an older brother, Carl, and a younger sister, Aimée. Pistorius' mother has had an immense  impact on his life after dying at the age of 43. During high school he partook in rugby, water polo, and tennis. He also participated in club Olympic wrestling. After a serious rugby knee injury in June 2003, he was introduced to running in January 2004 while undergoing rehabilitation at the University of Pretoria's High Performance Centre. Oscar has been running ever since, and has never looked back.
Oscar Pistorius interests me because I truly believe that he is one of the most devoted and determined people in this society, who has overcome numerous obstacles. Reading further into this blog you will experience Oscars latest accomplishments, how he lost his legs, the history of prosthetics, and a little bit more of who Oscar is as a person.