Prosthetic Encyclopedia & Glossary of Terms

Welcome to the Easestride Prosthetic Encyclopedia. Whether you are a new amputee, a caregiver, or a clinician, understanding the language of prosthetics is the first step toward a comfortable fit.

For more in-depth information on specific products, please visit our Prosthetic Liner & Sleeve Guides.

🦵 Anatomy & Medical Terms

Understanding these terms helps in describing fit issues or skin concerns to your prosthetist.

• Anterior (Ventral): Toward the front of the body.

• Distal: Farther from the point of attachment (e.g., the very tip of your residual limb).

• Dermatology: The study of skin. Crucial for users to monitor skin health when wearing gel liners.

• Edema: Swelling of the tissue. Common shortly after surgery or if a sleeve is too tight.

• Lateral: Away from the midline; the outer side of the limb.

• Medial: Toward the midline; the inner side of the limb.

• Popliteal: The area behind the knee. A critical pressure point for transtibial sleeves.

• Proximal: Closer to the body trunk (e.g., the upper part of the thigh).

🛠️ Specialized Liner & Sleeve Jargon

Added specifically to help your customers understand Easestride products.

• Cushion Liner: A gel liner designed for comfort and protection, usually used with a sealing sleeve for suspension.

• Locking Liner: A liner with a threaded "pin" at the distal end that locks into the prosthetic socket.

• Suspension Sleeve: An airtight tube (often made of gel-lined fabric) that fits over the top of the socket and onto the thigh to hold the prosthesis in place via vacuum.

• TPE Gel (Thermoplastic Elastomer): A skin-friendly, soft material used in many Easestride liners that is ideal for users with sensitive skin or low activity levels.

• Durometer: A measure of the hardness or "squishiness" of the gel in your liner.

• Pistoning: When the residual limb moves up and down inside the socket. Proper liner and sleeve fit minimizes this.

• Total Surface Bearing: A socket fit strategy where the gel liner distributes pressure evenly over the entire surface of the limb.

⚙️ General Prosthetic Terms

• Atrophy: Muscle wasting away from disuse. This often requires switching to a thicker liner or adding prosthetic socks.

• Check Socket: A clear plastic test socket used to evaluate the fit before the definitive version is made.

• Donning & Doffing: Donning is putting the prosthesis (and liner) on; doffing is taking it off.

  • Tip: Using a lubricant or spray can make donning a gel sleeve easier.

• Gait: The specific way a person walks.

• Prosthetist (CP/CPO): A certified professional who measures, designs, and fits your prosthesis.

• Residual Limb (Güdük): The remaining portion of the limb after amputation. This is what the liner protects.

• Socket: The hard "cup" of the prosthesis. The liner acts as the interface between your skin and this hard shell.

• Transtibial: An amputation below the knee.

• Transfemoral: An amputation above the knee.