Of course one can spend all day theoretically analyzing grip options and comparing different options or, just do it.<\/p>\n
It is intriguing to see recent surges of apparent ADL (activity of daily living) demonstrated with so-called “bionic hands” (including Otto Bock Michelangelo hand, iLimb by TouchBionics and BeBionic by RSL Steeper). For the most part, these are not a demonstration of a need to wear any of these hands.<\/p>\n
There are people that realize that not all advertising really means the offered solution works. Hand transplants – as useful or useless as some of the new ‘bionic’ hand gadgets – are known to fail and some people take a while before they verbally and publicly admit that body powered hooks are not as bad after all. As Jeff Kepner said in a video interview – with a hook you know what to expect. The difference still is that ‘bionic’ hands can be put aside – whereas hand transplants cannot.<\/p>\n
Stories like that makes you consider however just how much can be done without ANY prosthetic or transplanted hand. Just to get a feel for the functionality and to fully feel with the extremity.<\/p>\n
Videos are at least somewhat non-negotiable, and therein lies their beauty. Conversely you will hate me for the simplicity of (at least some of) these. So below is a demo of actual ADL using the arm stump only. Any of these may be also carried out with a prosthetic arm, but in many instances they work a lot better with ‘just’ the stump. Old orthopedic surgeons used to say “the best prosthetic arm is the stump itself” and it seems that the extra time my surgeon spent on my arm to fix it up proper and neat was time well spent. I find that the stump he left we with is in fact useful – long enough and sensitive.<\/p>\n
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