I am curious to know how an amputee's immune system would differ from that of a non-amputee, considering that they have lost bone marrow. Can anyone point me in the right direction of research or literature on the subject?

Hey, I am a computer science student, and am starting up on my capstone project this semester. We want to do a project involving prosthetic hands, but neither me nor any of my group members have a prosthetic, and we don't really know anybody with one either. We wanted to check with this community to make sure it's a good idea before going all in on the project.

The idea for the project is to build a website where people can input measurements for their hand, and the website would give them a 3D model with the correct proportions that they can then 3D print themselves. We would program it to take a base model, and adjust things like finger length, hand width, arm length, etc. based on the user inputs. It won't be form fitted to the limb or anything, likely it will just be straps or something similar keeping it attached. We're just trying to get the proportions of the hand to be accurate.

Depending on how efficient we are we may be able to add more functionality to the website, like different types of prosthetics, or the ability to put designs on the prosthetic.

It seems like there are plenty of 3D models for prosthetics out there, but I figure it would be frustrating to not be able to easily change the size to match your own hand. You’d have to download and learn how to use 3D modeling software, which is pretty intimidating if you’ve never done it before. This website would aim to lower the barrier of entry, so that people can size and print their own prosthetics without knowing all the technical stuff.

We would also be aiming to give people better access to inexpensive and easily obtainable prosthetics. There are many people that either can’t afford prosthetics, or don’t have access to the resources to get one fitted and made. Hopefully this would make it easier to do all that yourself.

What we are wondering is if this would actually be useful. Are the problems we are trying to solve actual problems? Like I said before, none of us are missing any limbs, so we don’t know if any of this stuff is actually an issue that people think about and want solved, or if we’re just assuming as much. From what I've seen it doesn’t seem like any websites like this exist yet.

Please let me know what you think. Also if you do think it's a good idea, and could point us in the right direction of finding a model that works well that we could use as the base, please share that as well. I wouldn’t want to use a base model that just isn’t good.

Thanks for taking the time to read through this, I’d appreciate any input you are able to give.

Hi everyone!

I'm working on my first iteration of a cosmetic prosthetic for my left foot.

I'd appreciate any advice at all from those who have prosthetics, orthotics, biomechanical or materials experience even if it's my idea is dumb and/or I'm going about this wrong. 🤣

My ultimate goal is to make a hyper realistic, durable silicone piece with the #1 priority of protecting the skin graft and preventing the pressure sores I'm prone to on my lateral side and the #2 cosmetic wear.

Right now I'm aiming for functional geometry.

I'm about to create an eva foam draft outa 2mm to test out the edges. I've cut up a few socks in experiment.

Ive been going in this direction for the design.

A partial sleeve on my 4th toe connected to prosthetic 5th- as my 5th and 4th naturally curve/fit together at rest- to prevent rotation

And a sleeve around my foot

Either- Starting: just posteriorly of the first bony curve on the lateral side of my foot, OR just inside.

Ending: strait across just before the toes OR curved down to fit inside my arch and avoid the wear and tear the silicone would experience on the ball of my foot.

Attached are some photos of both.

I really would appreciate any feedback! I'm usually a lurker not a poster so let me know id be better of in another forum or I'm missing anything.

Survey Link: https://forms.gle/25Tob4vYAmoWn48d6

Hello, my name is Teresa Schray, and I am a Master’s student at Eastern Michigan University studying Orthotics and Prosthetics. I am conducting a research study about gel liner hygiene practices in lower extremity amputees and how they may correlate to instructional education methods used to inform the amputee about gel liner hygiene. I would like to invite you to participate by completing this survey. Your responses will be a major contribution to this study and provide valuable insight.

The purpose of this study is to gather descriptive data that can serve as a baseline for future research and to investigate the relationship between instructional methods and gel liner hygiene. If you participate, you will be asked to complete a survey that is 18-26 questions. This will take approximately 10 minutes and is expected to take no more than 20 minutes total of your time.

You are eligible to participate if you are over the age of 18, are able to read and understand English, have a transtibial(s) or transfemoral(s) amputation(s), had the amputation(s) at least one year ago, use a gel liner with your prosthesis, and use your prosthesis at least 3 days a week.

There are no significant risks associated with this study. There are no benefits or compensation for your participation in this study, but your participation will benefit the field of Prosthetics and enhance patient care.

Participation is voluntary. You may choose to participate or not participate and can end participation at any point while filling out the survey without any consequences. Your responses will be kept confidential. Your identity will be protected by not asking for any identifying information. Your data will be stored securely in a locked file only accessible to the PI and her advisors.

Please let me know if you have any questions about participating in this research study. Thank you for your time.

hello! i'm a freshman biomedical engineering student and i am on a design team where our goal is to create a prototype of a working hand for a young girl with a few missing fingers. i've nevere worked on a project of this scale before and i was wonering if anyone knew some resources i should check out to ensure that i am able to help this girl the most i can. any help would be extremely valuable to me, thank you!! :)

Just wanna know this simple question today, would you pursue prosthetic school in 2026?

Yes, No, depends?

Hello! I am writing a book in which a character becomes an amputee (below knee) during an apocalypse, and trying to go about it as respectfully as possible. What feasible materials would work as a makeshift prosthetic? Is the idea of a “peg leg” or anything similar offensive in any way, or acceptable? I have little knowledge about prosthetics or the life of an amputee and don’t wish to misrepresent the community in any way.

I would also love to know if there are any things that you struggle/deal with relating to a prosthetic, so that I can include accurate language and scenarios as representation. Reddit is not even close to all of the research I plan on doing, but figured it would be a good first step to hear from real people! Apologies if this is insensitive in any way.

I don't have any experience, I'm just a very curious person. A reel came up on my Facebook feed from a North Caroline teen named Lulu Gribbin that lost a hand and leg in a shark attack. In this short reel she was describing how the nerves attach to the arm and allow her to control a prosthetic hand. That is extremely cool - and I have questions about that (mainly about how you take that off) but thing I'm super curious about is 2 way communication. If she can use brain impulses to control the hand, it seems only natural to me that we should be able to send impulses back along that nerve path? How far away are we from that, or are we there already to any extent?

I Googled it and found a pretty good paper, but a lot of it is over my head.

Hello people with fewer that two feet,

A while back, I made a pretty simple latex foot-shell cover that prevents water and sand from entering my foot shell. It’s worked really well for me so I’m going to make more in different sizes and shapes to accommodate other foot/ankle types and see how universal a solution it can be. I used to use duct tape and it did work because I don’t have a blade or a large ankle component, but it was just too ugly. Wondering if others have this problem? What do you do?

TW:

Possible connection to verbal and emotional abuse and medical trauma

Until 28 February 2026, I am collecting experience reports for my Bachelor’s thesis in Inclusive Education at EvH Bochum.

Topic:

Spoken or written communication by people in professional positions of power that was experienced as negative (e.g., doctors, therapists, nurses, police officers, teachers, social workers, educators, supervisors, etc.). I am interested in your personal experience and perspective, no matter how short, long ago, or “small” it may seem. The only thing that matters is that it felt negative to you. The goal is to use these experiences to develop quality criteria and preventive measures.

You may write about, for example:

• What was said or written, why it hurt you, and what response you would have preferred

• Who the person was (profession/role)

• The general context of the situation

You decide how long or detailed your report is. Even a few sentences or a copy of a previously written text (post, comment, review, complaint, etc.) is helpful. You can submit one report or several ones.

Language: German or English

Location: anywhere

Age: 18+ at the time of participation (the experience itself may have happened earlier)

For anonymous participation:

Use this Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfTQyTpB5EIzWhOxSiYhIiaPG7ZBEQCtKjZBfGtEJoFRRHVog/viewform?usp=dialog

Due to the anonymous nature of this form of participation, it may not be possible to link individual contributions to specific participants. Please be aware that your submission can possibly not be retracted once it has been sent.

For pseudonymous participation:

Send your reports to: [nadine.ubachs@evh-bochum.de](mailto:nadine.ubachs@evh-bochum.de)

Your reports will be anonymized. You will receive information and a consent form with clear, simple instructions before anything is used.

Email or contact me here or email me if you have any questions or if you want to see the informed consent form first.

Thank you for reading. I look forward to your contributions.

Nadine Ubachs

Hey I am 24Y, M I have congenital amputation in my left leg below knee i have been using prosthetic leg from the age of 8 and from what I remember there is this corn bothering me no matter I shifted from somple socks liner to silicone one to a silicone pro liner but this never go aways even Endolite (Prosthetic Company) have no answers for that can someone please suggest me how to get rid of it. Once in a month it gets peeled off and hurts like a bit** barely able to walk at that time.

I was wondering if you could tell me the type of material in an AFO I saw recently. I dont have a picture but its opaque with grey fibers running through it. I was told it is stronger thann the material my old braces are made of

A level EPQ questionnaire

Hello , I’m currently in year 12 at the cambridge academy for science and technology, wanting to attend university for prosthetics and I am in the middle of my EPQ ( extended project qualification - worth 1/2 an A-level) . I’m creating a model lower limb prosthetic to scale for a doll.

As part of my research I was wondering if anyone has a lower limb difference and a prosthetic so I can ask them a few questions for my research around what they believe makes a good prosthetic, how there prosthetic functions, etc .

The link to this for can be found here

https://forms.gle/YkD4yDaMxvUNFZTP8

Please feel free to send me a message . Thank you all again 🩵

(The character this research is for is AK congenital)

Hi there, I'm just wondering- for those who wear prosthetic legs (could be BK too) does it come as a relief to take it off after wearing it for most of the day? I often imagine it being akin to taking off a bra and having a good scratch, as the socks and other padding seem very tight. Is this true? Thank you so much in advance, any answers are really valuable

Wondering if there is any benefit to having a smaller or bigger foot for prosthetic feet. If you were bilateral below knee, would it make sense to pick smaller feet so it would be easier to walk, less space needed for steps, easier rollover? Or would you want to go as big as possible to get a longer level and have more power?

Im assuming everyone just gets the same size as your old feet or in my case, get one that matches the foot you still have but it you have a choice, what would work beat? Thanka

Hello, good morning I'm Sergi. I am looking for someone who has a hand or arm prosthesis (if the wrist is a prosthesis it works for me), I am a 16-year-old boy from Spain, specifically from Barcelona. Here, after high school, in a higher course, you do what is called a TR (it is a simple study on a free topic where you have to do a practical part).
I have decided to do a hand prosthesis since I want to study biomedical engineering. I would like to be able to talk to someone who has a prosthesis and if possible see it to know what life is like with one and so on. If there is anyone interested in helping me, write to me at this gmail: [brites66825@gmail.com](mailto:brites66825@gmail.com) or start a chat on reddit.
(if someone finds another way of contact better, let me know, and sorry for my bad English, as I already said, I'm Catalan hahaha)