Upper limb

become increasingly widespread. Consider the use of prosthetic limbs to restore limbs to those who lost them or have a condition preventing the development of the limb: individuals with prosthetic legs, for example, without denying the pain of having lost their limbs, need not be concerned with prosthetic fatigue. While the prosthesis may be mapped to their nerves to allow movement, it doesn’t function the same way as a flesh and blood limb, nor does it share the same limitations. An interesting…

We were sent to evacuate another village. As we are marching, I can see the faces full of grief, despair and depression as they're leaving in their columns and us entering in ours. We pass by silently. A few moments pass by and all I can hear is a ear piercing ringing noise and the earth crying out as we were being attacked. I was lost among all of the smoke when suddenly all I can feel is the earth against my face. I hear a faint, “Quick, up, Albert” coming from Paul about three feet away from…

Getting diagnosed paralyzed or losing a limb has to be one of the worst individual experiences a person can have. Thankfully, things could be looking up for these patients because DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, has restored the sense of touch with a prosthetic arm given to a paralyzed person. Now, the patient can move the limbs with thought. “We’ve completed the circuit,” said DARPA program manager Justin Sanchez. “Prosthetic limbs that can be controlled by thoughts are…

People should be able to replace their limbs with technology Since the beginning of time, technology has allowed humans to meet various demands and push boundaries. Recently, there has been an upsurge in technologies that allow humans to go further, to restore and even improve natural functions or elements of the body itself. Due to the impact of bionics, technological advancements, and future developments, people should be able to replace limbs with technology. To begin, bionics have a huge…

the experience of excruciating pain caused by a limb or other body part that is no longer attached to the body, this disturbance can prove to be not only exasperating but extraordinarily frightening as well. This strange phenomenon, of experiencing a limb that has been removed from the body, is referred to as a “phantom limb.” Around “90 percent of amputees worldwide” have experienced these puzzling sensations. Interestingly, at times, the limb is sensed as having mobility and at others is…

The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons written by Sam Kean is a collection of stories throughout history that depicts the discovery, symptoms, and shifts in the fundamental understanding of the brain and brain injuries. Within the pages of this book, Kean does a masterful job explaining the intricacies of the brain, providing captivating stories to stimulate the reader, all while encapsulating valuable information on the brain. The book is written from a scientific perspective, invoking brain…

performance or walking performance. In addition, the article indicated that the degree of loss of the body part function significantly affect the choice of artificial foot characteristic. Further, the study showed that the subjects with their amputated lower-limb sensation intact prefer artificial foot characterized by the shortest flat area, while those who have lost their sensation with slightly longer flat…

modernized. Prosthetics also significantly help amputees, making them a necessity for those who need support, according to professionals in the field. Prosthetics are created from plastic and usually have small sensors to track electrical nerves within a limb, but with developed technology, prosthetics can do so much more. Prosthetics have developed to detect certain signals, and in order to prepare an individual for prosthetics, stimulations are used. Stimulation signals get sent to the three…

Most amputees report a sequela where they perceive painful sensations in the missing part of the amputated limbs1. This condition is known as phantom limb pain (PLP). While various hypotheses have been proposed to explain the etiology of PLP, it remains unclear1. In this essay, I will present the debate between two contrasting theories on the possible causes of PLP. One argues that PLP arises as a top-down phenomenon because of maladaptive cortical plasticity2, and conversely, the other…

Paresthesia is not a disease, but a symptom of a condition that may be temporary or long-lasting. Paresthesia is a common symptom that refers to a prickling or burning sensation in some parts of the body, usually the arms, hands, legs, or feet. These can also occur in other body parts of the body. This unusual sensation, often happens without warning, and is typically painless. It may occur suddenly or gradually, but sometimes it may come and go. Other descriptions for paresthesia include…