Hi ANON – what you say about AK fitting being the most challenging is
the opposite of the way I had imagined it, my
impression being based on the lack of complaining posts by AKs….most
of the traffic is by BKs on amp-l and they persist in
their dissatisfaction. Seven years an AK, I’ve had three prosthetists:
the first doesn’t count because of the changes of my
stump, the second was incompetent then I lucked out with my present
prosthetist. My perceptions of BKs is that they are
bony-er (sp?) therefore more sensitive, stumps move more & with wider
range, are more distal and, being more vulnerable, are more difficult to
‘claim’ and protect….maybe involved also is that these people may
discount their disability thus think to bite off more activity than they
can chew and their invisibility makes them more apt to try to ‘pass’
with a wider menu
of activity. Perhaps somewhat fanciful thinking. I for one have
convinced myself I have it better than the BKs.
Do I come across as imagining there is ONE true method?? Not my
intention. What I think important is to emphasize
1.talented interchange and 2.knowing examination and 3.’laying on of
hands’ in the casting and alignment….to develop and
hone these skills is, I believe, to be a truly top notch prosthetist.
And we should make a point of impressing entrants into
the field with this.
I have the impression that MarkB.’s agenda may be largely component
oriented…..hope not but even so discussions here must
not be neglected no matter what other programs develop. The readership
here goes way outside our borders.
Yeah….’business stuff’. I am convinced that a step of major
importance is for prosthetists to somehow get out of marketing
and sell truly professional services, as eg the MDs. Cheers, George B.
