{"id":12037,"date":"2025-03-10T18:31:28","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T18:31:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2025\/?p=12037"},"modified":"2025-04-22T19:23:48","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T18:23:48","slug":"prosthetiktok-social-media-as-a-tool-for-prosthetics-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk\/uosm2031-2025\/2025\/03\/10\/prosthetiktok-social-media-as-a-tool-for-prosthetics-education\/","title":{"rendered":"ProstheTikTok \u2013 Social media as a tool for prosthetics education"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

For many, their only exposure to prosthetics has been from film, such as Captain Hook in Peter Pan \u2013 however, reality is far from fiction. I feel many people don\u2019t know the truth of prosthetics and orthotics; but they\u2019re not the mystery they seem! I myself have used an orthosis, needing a knee brace after a figure skating injury. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

With the rise of social media, it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Case Study 1 – Luke Tarrant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2013 showing every up and down on TikTok, describing the page as his \u2018open journal\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the challenges, Luke remains positive \u2013 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 \u2013 this time with a new leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
Luke’s TikTok Page<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
@luke_tarrant<\/a>

So the plan is this: enjoy the next couple of weeks over Christmas and new year with some selective prosthetic wearing. Then in January, have a full month of no walking (my worst nightmare). If that doesn\u2019t chill things out a bit, it could be back onto the operating table for some more surgery on the stump. It\u2019s an incredibly tough spot I\u2019m in at the moment and without the @Dorset Orthopaedic prosthetics team and specialist doctors I honestly don\u2019t know what I would do. This too shall pass.<\/p> \u266c To Build A Home – The Cinematic Orchestra<\/a> <\/section> <\/blockquote>