title: Upper extremity myoelectric prosthetics.
abstract: Myoelectric control of upper limb prostheses has proven to be an effective and efficient means of controlling prosthetic components. This means of control has been used extensively for over 30 years, during which time these systems have become reliable and durable in most situations. Myoelectric control, or any other prosthetic control scheme, should not be considered as the optimal control for arm prostheses, but rather as one of the several effective ways of producing desired function. Advanced clinical practice calls for a blending of all control schemes, as appropriate, to allow the prosthesis to serve the intentions of the user efficiently and with little mental effort. Technology continues to change, bringing with it new and sometimes better ways of fitting amputees. Microprocessors and programmable controllers have opened new and exciting avenues for improvement in function. New, and as of yet unidentified, electronic and mechanical advances are certainly on the horizon. There is much work to be done before upper limb prostheses rightfully are called arm replacements. But progress is occurring and advances are being made toward the goal of replacing the function and appearance of that marvelous tool, the human arm.
authors.affiliation: Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Uellendahl
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm; D001186:Artificial Limbs / Q000145:classification / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000639:trends; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008838:Microcomputers; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods