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Myoelectric Prostheses

 
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Myoelectric prostheses rely on electric signals that your body naturally makes. Your body’s nerves produce these electric signals to activate a muscle to move. Myoelectric prostheses have sensors that detect your body’s electric signals, then amplify and transform the signals into device movement. This means that signals from your own muscles control the movements of the myoelectric prostheses.¹

Pros:

  • Compared to switches and pressure sensors, myoelectric prostheses require less thought to control, and are intended to be more intuitive to use. Rather than using pressure or a switch to signal for movement, myoelectric prostheses allow people to control their device’s movement using their own thoughts and movements.1,2

  • Compared to body-powered prostheses, myoelectric prostheses are typically thought to be more attractive and have a higher pinch strength.2

Cons:

  • Myoelectric prostheses do not work well when the body is unable to send electric signals to where the hand used to be. For example, after time without your hand, your brain can forget how to move it.

  • Myoelectric prostheses are not suited for people with nerve damage or neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, tardive dyskinesia, or a chronic tremor.1

  • These devices are typically more expensive and heavier than body-powered prostheses.2

  • The training time is longer to learn how to use a myoelectric prosthetic.2
 

Mr. Cicero, with unilateral, above elbow limb loss (12 years after amputation), demonstrates the range of motion and function of his myoelectric prosthesis.

Ms. Skinner, with unilateral, below-elbow limb loss (5 years after amputation), demonstrates how she uses her myoelectric prosthesis.

Mr. Vazquez, with unilateral, above-elbow limb loss (3 years after amputation), talks about the benefits of his myoelectric prosthesis.

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References