The transition of seasons brings with it many changes that impact prosthetic users: changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, activities we enjoy, how we dress, and how we navigate our surroundings. For prosthetic users, it’s especially important to understand how these changes can adversely affect the use of prosthetic devices and what you can do to stay ahead of adverse events which can occur as a result of seasonal changes.

Winter into Spring

When winter turns to spring, one of the first signs of the seasons changing is a rise in temperature. This temperature increase can result in extremities swelling as heat causes blood vessels to dilate. For prosthetic users, this can cause more than mere discomfort; swelling in a residual limb can significantly and negatively impact the fit of your prosthetic device. And as prosthetic users know, an ill-fitting device can cause all sorts of issues from skin irritation to pain and instability during functional activities. If you notice any issues with fit, make an appointment to see your prosthetist or healthcare team as soon as possible for an assessment.

Spring into Summer

Once spring rolls into summer, it’s water that prosthetic users need to think about. The hotter and more humid weather elicits sweat in most individuals, and summer also makes available a variety of water-related activities such as swimming, boating, kayaking, and beach vacations, resulting in excess exposure to water and moisture. This exposure can affect prosthetic users in multiple ways. It can cause prosthetic devices to slip out of place, it can lead to bacterial or fungal infections on the residual limb, and it can degrade the metal and electronic components of prosthetic devices.

Be sure to keep your device and your residual limb dry throughout the day, taking special care to fully dry your limb and your device after any exposure to water or moisture.

Summer into Autumn

The start of autumn is often marked by falling temperatures and corresponding loss of daylight hours. As such, while the afternoons may still harbor the pleasing warmth of summer, mornings and evenings can be much chillier.

Many prosthetic users report discomfort and issues with precise fit during the transitional temperatures on fall mornings and evenings. The use of socks can help maintain a consistent and comfortable temperature in your residual limb during the chillier times of day, as long as they don’t negatively impact the fit of your device. However, if fit issues persist throughout the day, it’s important to consult with your prosthetic healthcare team for an assessment.

Autumn into Winter

As the coldest of the seasons, winter brings with it weather-related hazards like snow and ice. Not only does winter precipitation make walking more difficult for prosthetic users with slippery surfaces and additional ground debris, but the salts and chemicals used by many cities to control snow are caustic for prosthetic devices. Be sure to fully clean and then dry your prosthetic device to avoid damage from winter weather. And when navigating winter landscapes, take special caution to steady yourself and use additional support like handrails or an assistive device when needed.

Contact Us

Work with the team at Kenney Orthopedics throughout the year to make sure your prosthetic device is optimized for the season so that no matter what the weather brings, you’re ready.

Kenney Orthopedics has locations near Lexington, KY; Louisville, KY; Indianapolis, IN; and Charlotte, NC, to serve prosthetic users across the South.

Contact Kenney Orthopedics to talk about your prosthetic care journey today.