How Does Myoelectric Prosthesis Work?

There are a number of different prosthetic limbs and they are generally designed with different aims or goals. Those goals largely depend on where the prosthetic is needed or the site of the limb that has been amputated.

A cosmesis, is a cosmetic prosthetic. It is designed with the main goal of maintaining as normal appearance as possible. There are other prosthetics which are designed with the aim or usability foremost in mind. There are also prosthetic limbs that are body-powered and controlled by the use of cables which connect them on other parts of the body. 

The more advanced method of controlling a prosthetic limb is through listening to the muscles which remain in the remaining limb which the patient may still be able to contract. Because electrical signals are generated when muscles contract, there are electrodes strategically placed on the skin’s surface which can measure the movement of muscle. The detected contractions help to control the prosthetic limb. When this is the case, the prosthetic limb is referred to as myoelectric prosthesis. 

Many patients opt for this type of prosthetic because, it not only looks good, but it is also much easier to control those that have prehensile devices which are used in prosthetics that are body-powered.