It is important for doctors, occupational therapists and prosthetists to continue to discuss the running of force sources, cables, harnesses, etc., while sharing their opinions as a team, in order for body-powered upper-limb prostheses to meet the needs for their users and allow them to move as they wish. Therefore, it is a possibility for the prosthetic hand to be inspected and evaluated as being above a certain standard for the completed prosthetic hand. I show the possibilities of the body-powered upper-limb prosthesis with a modified structure and its use by users from some cases that I have experienced. The purpose of the test for the body-powered upper-limb prosthesis is to evaluate its being above a certain level before fitting the prosthetic hand, even if the level of prosthesis is not reached by understanding the test and making or adjusting the prosthetic hand.

A body-powered upper limb prosthesis is an effective way to compensate for lost function. A body-powered upper-limb prosthesis is provided to amputees after the checkout process, but in conventional fitting tests, many inspection items were focusing on operation. In order to provide an appropriate body-powered upper-limb prosthesis to an amputee, it is necessary to evaluate not only whether it is operable, but also to confirm the fitting at rest. For this reason, we have decided to conduct a new compatibility test called an installation checkout for a body-powered upper-limb prosthesis fitting, which evaluates the position and setting of prosthetic components in the initial phase. This paper explains the structure and contents of the installation checkout for a body-powered upper-limb prosthesis fitting.

Things that expand the possibilities for active prosthetic arms and amputees are (1) the basic body-powered upper-limb prosthesis, (2) knowledge and technology backed by extensive experience, (3) past knowledge, (4) new products, (5) ideas, and (6) opinions and requests of amputees. Herein, we considered the “hidden” possibilities of the body-powered upper-limb prosthesis through the elbow system prosthetic hand developed in the wake of (6). In addition, in order to expand the possibilities of body-powered upper-limb prostheses and amputees, it is important to create a suitable body-powered upper-limb prosthesis. In the future, a new body-powered upper-limb prosthesis checkout will play this role. The body-powered upper-limb prosthesis created through these processes will become an indispensable upper-limb prosthesis for amputees’ lives, and will further expand its possibilities.

A self-administered survey was conducted with the aim to clarify the differences between the physical therapists and the prosthetists and orthotists in their perception of and involvement in the follow-up of lower limb orthoses. Respondents among prosthetists and orthotists were recruited by sending documents requesting research to manufacturers of prostheses and orthoses nationwide, and respondents among physical therapists were recruited using the snowball sampling method. Responses were obtained from 174 prosthetists and orthotists and from 224 physical therapists. From the responses, cross-tabulation was performed and the chi-square test was used to compare the contents of responses. Only approximately 10% of the respondents in both professions provided information concerning the lower limb orthoses to care managers. Approximately 90% of the respondents recognized that the environment for deepening collaboration with other professions was insufficient. The survey also showed that a large percentage of respondents did not use written explanations regarding the lower limb orthoses.

In recent years, the number of older adult amputees has increased, and lower limb amputations are often accompanied by hemiplegia. Although it is not easy to acquire a practical gait following limb amputation, attempting to walk with a prosthetic leg is considered necessary to maximize residual abilities. In this study, patients with right above-the-knee amputation and left moderate hemiplegia were subjected to basic movement practice, as well as standing and walking practice using a right above-the-knee prosthesis and left knee-ankle-foot orthosis. We found that, although the patient was unable to achieve practical walking, she was able to transfer under supervision and stand up with little assistance; thus, she was discharged home. Even if the acquisition of practical walking is difficult, active standing and walking practice may improve the motor function of the paralyzed leg and reduce the amount of assistance needed to perform basic activities and activities of daily lining.

Rehabilitation for upper-limb hemiplegia caused by stroke is important because it reduces independence in activities of daily living. The effectiveness of sling therapy such as the Portable Spring Balancer (PSB) and electrical stimulation therapy using the Integrated Volitional Electrical Stimulator (IVES) has been shown, though there are few reports of combined training using PSB and IVES electrical stimulation therapy on the infraspinatus muscle (combined training). Therefore, we report a case in which we practiced combined training on a patient with severe upper-limb hemiplegia in the acute phase caused by stroke. Combined training was performed from X+15 to X+28 days. During training, shoulder shrug-like movements were inhibited, and no pain appeared. The patient showed upper limb function improvement. The amount and quality of the upper-limb hemiplegia performance during ADL situations can reduce independence in the activities of daily living.

We report the rehabilitation consequences of 27 children with congenital upper-limb malformation, who underwent training for upper limb prostheses use at the National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities from January 2010 to September 2022. The mean number of prosthetic hand types used in the trial was 2.3. The median duration of training was 2 years and 9 months. Eighteen children were provided with upper-limb prostheses through the public provision system. Nine children did not need prostheses. Most of them used upper-limb prostheses with passive hands as first prostheses, and then shifted to use myoelectric prostheses. In addition, they chose the prostheses for sports as the third. Lower age at the start of trial, unilateral trans-radial deficiency and clear purpose of use are key factors for provision through the public provision system.