|
|
|
Awareness And Understanding About Mental Illness
Mental illness can strike anyone! It knows no age limits,
economic status, race, creed or color. During the course of a
year, more than 54 million Americans are affected by one or more
mental disorders.
Medical science has made incredible...
Dimensional Shifts
DIMENSIONAL SHIFTS: "Spirit is beyond the void of space. This realm, beyond the void, is not an empty nothingness; it is the womb of creation. -- Nature goes to the same place to create a galaxy of stars, a cluster of nebulas, a rain forest, a...
Homeopathy and Sex
Homeopathy: It is a wonderful thing to have the Joy of Learning and to make a career that you find is related to your studies. There are so many ways to get a Doctor label and thus claim expertise in the many fields and disciplines which we have...
Subconscious Drives Make You Unhappy
Feelings and emotions are nerve impulses. The feel of paper and the flush of shame. Feelings and emotions are relayed as nerve impulses. Nerve endings or sensors report on feelings from tissues all over the body. These sensations include sharp...
What Planet is Your Family From? Uranus or Neptune?
"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." This is one of the most famous opening lines ever written. The author is a man consumed by horror and fascination with families and family life, a man who had 12...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advances in Prosthetic Devices Offer Increased Freedom for Amputees
Strong but lightweight materials and advances in technology have
translated into more comfort and higher function for amputees.
In the past artificial limbs were made of wood and existed
without moving joints, so that above the joint amputations in
particular severely limited the mobility of the individual. In
addition, the heavy wooden construction made the use of a
prosthesis difficult and uncomfortable. Now, modern lightweight
materials increase the comfort level of prosthetic use
enormously, and new technology allows much more freedom of
movement, even with above the joint amputations.
Prosthetic devices
with moveable joints have gone through a number of
transformations. Developing from a fairly clumsy mechanical
joint to ones with robotic capability, joints have gone from
operating using the musculature of the affected limb to being
able to directly access electrical impulses from the body of the
amputee, or from a computer within the artificial limb itself.
In addition, robotic devices using built-in computer technology
allow for much more subtle limb movements, allowing for more
natural capability.
This new technology has translated into an immense sense of
freedom for the amputee. People wearing these modern limbs are
running marathons, participating in downhill ski competitions,
and engaging in all sorts of sports and other recreational
activities that were barred to them in the past. Perhaps even
more importantly, they are more easily able to function in the
everyday world, meeting work requirements along with
their
non-disabled coworkers, and keeping up with family and friends
in their free time.
An Increase in Self-Esteem
When a previously able-bodied person is suddenly faced with
amputation of one or more limbs, whether because of an accident,
war injury, complications of diabetes, or cancer, the trauma of
the situation is a blow to the individual's core identity. One's
body image is shattered, and a host of fears set in: fear of
losing mobility, becoming dependent on others for their basic
care, of facing a lifetime of severely limited opportunities.
Being fitted with a modern, functional artificial limb and then
learning to use it can seem like a kind of miracle. As people
become more proficient and realize the possibilities opening up
to them, their self-esteem soars, and they can begin to look
forward to a productive, happy and option-filled life.
The Future of Prosthetics
The technology continues to improve in this important area of
medicine. Currently, scientific researchers are perfecting a
computerized robotic limb which can be directed by neuronal
impulses in the brain - in other words by an individual's
thoughts. As the science of prosthetics progresses, it promises
to further enhance the lives of those maimed by amputation.
About the author:
Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern
New Hampshire and frequently contributes to Tips and
Topics. She may be reached at amfredenburg@yahoo.com.
|
|
|
|
|
| Science/AAAS | Scientific research, news and career information |
| International weekly science journal, published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). |
| www.sciencemag.org |
|
| Science/AAAS | Table of Contents: 1 December 2006; 314 (5804) |
| This Week in Science: Editor summaries of this week's papers. Science 1 December 2006: 1349. ... 2006 American Association for the Advancement of Science. ... |
| www.sciencemag.org |
|
| Science.gov : FirstGov for Science - Government Science Portal |
| Science.gov is a gateway to government science information provided by US Government science agencies, including research and development results. |
| www.science.gov |
|
| ScienceDaily: Your source for the latest research news and science ... |
| ScienceDaily -- the Internet's premier online science magazine and science news web site -- brings you the latest discoveries in science, health & medicine, ... |
| www.sciencedaily.com |
|
| Science News - New York Times |
| Find breaking news, science news & multimedia on biology, space, the environment, health, NASA, weather, drugs, heart disease, cancer, AIDS, mental health ... |
| www.nytimes.com |
|
| Science News Online |
| Weekly magazine offers featured articles from the current issue along with special online-only features. Includes photo collection, archives, ... |
| www.sciencenews.org |
|
| Science in the Yahoo! Directory |
| Explore the fields of astronomy, biology, geology, mathematics, and physics and all of their related disciplines with resources designed for professionals, ... |
| dir.yahoo.com |
|
| Open Directory - Science |
| Agriculture (2454); Anomalies and Alternative Science (525); Astronomy (4208); Biology (20593); Chemistry (4852); Computer Science@ (2358) ... |
| dmoz.org |
|
| BBC - Science & Nature |
| The best of BBC Science and Nature, from TV and radio, to the web and beyond. Take a tour from the smallest atoms, to the largest whales and the most ... |
| www.bbc.co.uk |
|
| Science - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| Sciences versus Science: the plural of the term is often used but is difficult to ... Science education is also a very vibrant field of study and research. ... |
| en.wikipedia.org |
|
| Popular Science |
| Monthly magazine about current science and technology. |
| www.popsci.com |
|
| Science/AAAS | ScienceNOW: The Latest News Headlines from the ... |
| AAAS web magazine. Some free sample stories, subscription required for full text. |
| sciencenow.sciencemag.org |
|
| ScienceCareers.org | Science Jobs, Funding, Meetings, and Advice ... |
| Searchable database of jobs, sorted by field specialty. Can post resume and curriculum vitae. Includes tips for improving the workplace for employers and ... |
| sciencecareers.sciencemag.org |
|
| American Association for the Advancement of Science |
| Research news, issue papers. Educational programs, science policy (US and international). |
| www.aaas.org |
|
| NASA - Science@NASA |
| News and features about NASA research, aimed at the general public. Includes sections on astronomy, space science, beyond rocketry, living in space, ... |
| science.nasa.gov |
|
| Science NetLinks: Resources for Teaching Science |
| Resources for K-12 science educators. |
| www.sciencenetlinks.com |
|
| Cool Science for Curious Kids |
| Fun and interactive site to help kids appreciate science. Why are snakes like lizards, and monkeys like moose? Find out here. |
| www.hhmi.org |
|
| Welcome to the Science Museum |
| London museum and library of science. Exhibitions cover all areas of science and technology. Includes online exhibits and a learning area. |
| www.sciencemuseum.org.uk |
|
| New Scientist - International News, Ideas, Innovation |
| Weekly science and technology news magazine, considered by some to be the world's best, with diverse subject matter. Articles from current issue and ... |
| www.newscientist.com |
|
| CNN.com - Science and Space |
| Offers news stories related environmental issues, archeology, astronomy, technology, geology and other science topics. |
| www.cnn.com |
|
|