Introduction to Part Two
New Approaches to Meeting Common Problems
PART 2 looks at methods, aids, and equipment
related to walking, and at ways to correct or cope with
various problems in the legs and feet. The first several chapters
in Part 2 (Chapters 11 to 14) look at
leg braces (calipers). Chapters
18 and 19
concern artificial legs.
Use of Plastics. The introduction of plastic as a
basic material for making leg braces and other orthopedic appliances has
been a big step forward. For many children who have had to wear heavy,
uncomfortable, metal braces, the chance to use light-weight, comfortable,
snug-fitting plastic braces can be liberating.
| BRACES FROM JUNK PLASTIC.
Professionally made plastic braces are often so costly that many
people who need them cannot afford them. Fortunately, in various
countries and communities, people have found ways to make plastic
braces and other appliances at low cost - using everything from
plastic cups and buckets to
PVC water pipe and plastic sewage pipe. |
 |
| Part 2 of this book looks at the
use of plastic - from simple throw-away containers to modern
oven-molded polypropyrene. |
The chapters in Part 2 will give a range of examples of these
innovative uses of plastic to create low-cost braces and artificial legs.
Two chapters explore ways that empty plastic bottles or
plastic pipes can be used as "foot-tubes" to help correct in-turned feet.
"MODERN" BRACES. In addition to innovations with old
plastic containers, PROJIMO uses "modern" plastic brace-making technology,
simplifying it for use in a village workshop. Sheets of polypropylene
plastic are oven-heated and draped over plaster leg casts to create
individually designed braces.
Raymundo, a paraplegic brace-maker at PROJIMO, drapes a hot sheet of
polypropylene plastic over the mold of a boy's leg, and trims off the
excess. Oliver Bock (with beard), a visiting orthotist (professional brace
maker), helps and teaches Raymundo.
Artificial Limbs. People in India have made one of the
biggest breakthroughs in appropriate, low-cost artificial limbs: the
Jaipur foot. But, because this is well-known and produced
in many countries, Chapter 19 looks more
closely at the Mukti limb, a leg made from a section of
plastic drain-pipe.
Skeleton for Teaching. To better understand how a leg
or foot can best be braced, or to plan effective therapy, it helps to have
some understanding of how the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments work
together. To demystify the anatomy of the lower limb,
Chapter 20 introduces the design and use of
a simple plywood skeleton used for teaching.
Participatory Problem Solving. As in the rest of this
book, most of the chapters in Part 2 will focus on how the technologies
described have been designed and adapted to meet the particular needs of a
person with a disability.
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