ARTIFICIAL LEGS
OTHER WAYS OF MAKING ARTIFICIAL LIMBS
Wooden legs
The oldest, traditional way of making artificial limbs is to make the socket out of wood.
635
This is best learned from a skilled craftsperson. Unfortunately, this is a skill that is
difficult to learn from a book. A book that describes the method step-by-step is Manual
of Above-Knee Wood Socket Prosthetics by Miles Anderson, John Bray, and Charles
Hennesey. It has gone out of print, but you may still be able to find it. Unfortunately,
the methods described are complex and require a lot of special equipment. However,
perhaps they could be simplified. (We have not tried this method.)
Leather socket: Self-adjusting prosthesis
This method uses flat metal bars, a wood
post, and a thick, firm leather socket. To
form the socket, wet leather is stretched
over a plaster mold of the stump. Methods
are clearly and simply described in Simple
Below-knee Prosthesis Manufacture. (See
reference, p. 641.)
A leather socket has several advantages.
Leather is available almost everywhere, is more
comfortable in hot weather, and can easily be
adjusted to the stump as it becomes smaller.
Also, leather is soft and easily takes the
shape of the stump, and therefore self-corrects
molding mistakes.
Stump protectors from old tires
For a child with both legs
amputated above the knee,
short artificial limbs or even
simple ‘stump protectors’
may allow her to move
about easier than long leg
limbs.
Cut an
old tire
like this.
thick
stocking
adjustable
straps
Cut part way
through rubber
to bend.
disabled village children