The function of prosthesis is good or bad depends on its structure, but more important is that how to operate and use the prosthesis by amputee himself. Especially for upper limb prosthesis, if the amputee himself does not carry out systematic training, even if the prosthesis is designed to be dexterous, it is impossible to play its compensatory function well.

The training personnel of upper limb prosthesis should not only guide the training work of patients, but also do a good job in the psychological rehabilitation of patients, fully mobilize the positive factors of patients and improve their confidence in using prosthesis.

The training process

1. Purpose of training before prosthesis assembly:

To develop muscle in the stump and increase muscle strength in order to gain enough strength to operate and control the prosthesis. After the muscle is developed, it can also increase the pressure of the stump in the socket and increase the stability of the prosthesis;

Extend the range of motion of the upper limb joint to obtain the traction displacement required for the manipulation of the cable prosthesis;

Prevent or correct limb imbalance and uneven distribution of muscle strength after amputation caused by bad posture, such as scoliosis;

The intensity of EMG signal source was increased to release EMG from the stump of rehabilitated amputees.

2. Increase the range of joint motion training

Shoulder joint broken: Shoulder joint broken and upper arm high amputation patients, must practice shoulder lifting, sinking and forward flexion and extension. Both shoulders need to be carried out, because the force source is not only from the residual shoulder, but also from the healthy shoulder after the installation of the shoulder joint broken prosthesis.

Upper arm amputation: in addition to shoulder exercise, but also need to increase the upper arm forward flexion, back extension; Internal rotation, external rotation and abduction.

Forearm amputation: increase elbow flexion and extension and forearm pronation and supination on the basis of shoulder and upper arm training.

The above movements exercise in the stump conditions permit, which can be practiced by themselves; If the condition of the stump does not permit, the therapist should assist in passive training until the patient can perform active training. Functional training, which combines passive movements with the patient's active movements, which should begin early after amputation until the patient can painlessly and freely move the stump over the entire range.

3. Stump and healthy shoulder muscle strength training. This training is carried out under the condition of weight, the loading weight is 2 kg at the beginning, and then can be gradually increased to 15 kg. After a period of training, to expand the range of muscle contraction and enhance the purpose of muscle strength. In addition to flexion training, the rotation of the stump should be trained to enhance the internal rotation and external rotation ability of the upper arm stump, so as to control the internal rotation tendency of the prosthesis when the shoulder lift and flexion arm operate the prosthesis. Enhance the pronation and supination ability of forearm stump to ensure the rotation function of forearm prosthesis.