For many, their only exposure to prosthetics has been from film, such as Captain Hook in Peter Pan – however, reality is far from fiction. I feel many people don’t know the truth of prosthetics and orthotics; but they’re not the mystery they seem! I myself have used an orthosis, needing a knee brace after a figure skating injury.
With the rise of social media, it’s becoming easier than ever to share your life with others – whether that be your opinions on the latest album release, or an account of your personal experiences. One use of social media that I find fascinating is how TikTok is being used as a tool for education on prosthetics – a tool I used when wanting to learn more following the UOSM2031 lectures.
Case Study 1 – Luke Tarrant
After a motorcycle crash in Columbia, Luke was left in hospital, battling sepsis, eventually having his left leg amputated. Even with these hardships, Luke is now using his voice for good – showing every up and down on TikTok, describing the page as his ‘open journal’.
One obstacle Luke faced was returning to a wheelchair over Christmas. After using a poorly fitting prosthetic, swelling of the residual limb left his socket unable to fit correctly. To avoid further complications, he had to take a break, making him feel like progress had been lost.
Despite the challenges, Luke remains positive – sharing the excitement he felt after being able to wear the prosthetic again. After recovery, Luke plans to get back out adventuring, hoping to finish his motorcycle journey across South America – this time with a new leg.
Case Study 2 – Erica the Glamputee
At 19, Erica contracted bacterial meningitis which ultimately led to sepsis. As a result of this, Erica is now a quadruple amputee. Under the name ‘Glamputee’, Erica creates informational videos on TikTok, which she hopes can be used an educational tool.
As a quadruple amputee, Erica uses a full set of prosthetic arms and legs. She opts for ‘hook style’ prosthetic hands, as opposed to the new electronic styles. To some, this may seem confusing, but Erica explains that these electronic hands would be more restrictive for her as they can be slow and incredibly difficult to use – and expensive!
These prosthetics make Erica more independent in her daily life, allowing her to work, care for her children and more – without prosthetics slowing her down.
Case study 3 – P&O with Mo
Mo isn’t an amputee like Luke and Erica – rather she’s a prosthetics and orthotics student at the Baylor College of Medicine. She started a TikTok page after feeling that there is a lack of understanding in what being a prosthetist or orthotist entails.
In the UK, to become a prosthetist like Mo, you first need to complete an approved degree in prosthetics and orthotics, then by law you must register with the Health and Care Professions Council. Only registered prosthetists can fit prosthetic limbs, and the devices are regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
‘Make it with Mo’ is a mini-series that Mo has created on TikTok. In each video, Mo shows the process start to finish of building the prosthetic or orthotic, with in-depth explanations about every step, something I’ve found to be incredibly informative.
While social media can be damaging, it can also be an incredibly useful tool for education. It is great to know there are creators out there dedicated to increasing the public knowledge of prosthetics – and I’ve loved learning from them!
What’s your favourite social media platform for educational videos, and who is your favourite prosthetics content creator?
All videos are sourced from TikTok, following the sites Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. All information on case studies is sourced from the individuals own TikTok page, as well as my own opinions.
This is a well formatted blog that is easy to follow with a good level of knowledge on the topic. It could be improved with some more personal opinions and discussion on potential downsides and limitations of this form of media for discussing such an important, and sometimes sensitive topic.