AK — Above the knee
AFO — Ankle Foot Orthosis
Alignment — Position of a prosthetic socket in relation to foot and knee
Amputation — Removal of all or part of a limb due to infection, injury, tumor, disease or trauma
Amputee — A person who has had all or part of a limb removed/amputated or is born without a limb
Traumatic amputation — A spontaneous removal of a limb as a result of an accident
Bilateral — Bi means both, meaning both sides
BE — Below elbow – Transradial
BK — Below the knee – Transtibial
Cadence — Walking speed
Congenital limb deficiency — When all or parts of limb/s do not develop normally in the womb or are missing
CPO — Certified prosthetist and orthotist (also known as CO – CP – CPOT)
Disarticulation — Limb is amputated through the joint
Distal — Located at a distance away from the point of origin
Doffing — Taking the prosthesis off
Donning — Putting the prosthesis on
ECG — Electro-cardiograph, recording of the electrical activity of the heart
Edema — Swelling of the tissues (also spelled oedema)
Endo — Inside
Exo — Outside
FO — Foot Orthosis
Gait — Training, learning to walk with a prosthesis
HKAFO — Hip Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis
HO — Hip Orthosis
Interface — Inner surface of socket
KAFO — Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis
KO — Knee Orthosis
Liner — Soft socket rolled over the stump used for protection, comfort and in some cases as a suspension
Lower extremity — Lower limb
Occupational therapy — Training to maximize independence in daily life
PPAM — Pneumatic Post Amputation Mobility Aid is an inflatable device (not a prosthesis) that is used in the UK by physiotherapists as part of the rehabilitation program prior to prosthetic rehabilitation.
Patella — Kneecap
Peripheral vascular disease — Disease of the blood vessels from a variety of causes
Phantom pain — Painful feeling in the part of the extremity that has been amputated
Phantom sensation — Awareness of the amputated limb, although not described as pain
Phantom limb — Sensation of the presence of the limb that has been amputated
Physical therapy — Therapeutic exercises in order to treat a disease or a disability
Pistoning — When a liner stretches so that the stump elongates
Prosthesis — A fabricated/artificial substitute for a body part that is missing
Prosthetist — Someone who specializes in designing, fitting and making artificial limbs
Proximal — Located at a distance near the point of origin
Residual limb — The remaining part of the limb after amputation (the stump)
Socket — The part of the prosthesis (artificial limb) that fits around the residual limb
Suction socket — A socket on an artificial leg that is held to the residual limb by the suction of negative pressure maintained within the socket
Transradial — Amputation below the elbow
Transfemoral (TF) — Amputation above the knee
Transmetasatal (TM) — Amputation through junction of toe and foot bones
Transtibial (TT) — Amputation below the knee
Transhumeral — Above the elbow
Upper extremity — Upper limb
Total contact — Total contact between the limb and socket at all points
Vascular amputation — Amputation surgery perfomed as a result of impaired circulation of blood through the blood vessels of the limb
Voluntary control — The ability of the user to control mechanical elements of the prosthesis (i.e., control over motion in the knee, ankle or foot)
