What is a prosthetic knee?

Prosthetic knee is a mechanical device that replaces the knee, which for some reason is no longer functional. Many people who suffer from knee severe pain or have serious knee damage have knee substitute surgery. Such operations can restore a large part of the individual's mobility and are able to restore a relatively active lifestyle of many people.

During the knee replacement, the surgeon removes the damaged bone and cartilage and replaces them with a person. Having a prosthetic knee can prevent it from engaging in many physically demanding activities such as jogging and various impact sports. There is no perfect prosthetic knee and new versions are constantly evolving. Some use hydraulics, some are purely mechanical and others are computer. Of course, the prosthetic limbs are complicated, but they do not serve a huge range of purposes that the knee serves. The knee must allow smooth movement when one walks and must also support when one stands. Must have a series of movement to allowIt can sit, stand or kneel. There is no single, ideal prosthetic knee, because the purpose of the knee is too complex to fully solve with one design.

There are more than 100 different designs of prosthetic knees. Doctors work with patients to choose the most suitable and take into account things such as age, weight, level of activity, gender and height. Some people choose a simple mechanical knee. This type of prosthesis has been used for decades. Others choose a more advanced computer knee that allows accurate repairs in stability and movement control.

Mechanical knees do not have electric or computer components and come in many different forms. Some are single and act as a simple joint. These are least expensive and require low maintenance, but cannot offer the stability of other types of prosthetic knees. Some are polycentric and nabThey are greater stability and better degree of movement. Some mechanical knees manually, some are pneumatic and others are even hydraulic.

Recently, engineers have designed computer prosthetic knees. These computer prostheses have microprocessors and integrated liquid systems. The computer aspects of the knee are essentially "learned" details of the individual's walking and adequately adjust the fluid control system. Computer prostheses tend to be lighter, more stable and more expensive than their purely mechanical counterparts. They are generally used by more active individuals.

Although there is no perfect prosthetic knee, scientists and engineers have passed a long way to make the best knee. With the advent of computer prostheses, easily accessible and efficient man can not be too far. Soon, maybe, people with prosthesis will run again.