prothetica

Prothetica is an interdisciplinary domain concerned with the design, production, integration, and evaluation of prosthetic devices to restore function and support daily living for people who have limb loss or impairment, as well as for animals in veterinary contexts. It encompasses engineering, medicine, rehabilitation, and user-centered design to address functional, sensory, and cosmetic goals.

Key areas include mechanical prosthetics (body-powered and externally powered limbs), implantable devices and osseointegrated attachments, and prostheses with advanced control systems such as myoelectric, neural, and pattern-recognition interfaces. Materials science and manufacturing methods, including additive manufacturing such as 3D printing, aid customization, weight reduction, and comfort. Sensory feedback, closed-loop control, and tactile sensing are active research directions aiming to restore a sense of touch. Cosmetic prosthetics address appearance without necessarily providing function.

Clinical practice involves assessment, fitting, training, and ongoing adjustment, with attention to user comfort, device durability, and integration with the user’s daily activities. The field also considers ethical, social, and economic dimensions, including accessibility, policy, and reimbursement, as well as regulatory standards for safety and efficacy.

Historically, prosthetics evolved from passive devices to sophisticated powered systems. Recent decades have seen rapid progress in lighter materials, myoelectric and implantable controls, osseointegration, and digital fabrication. The term prothetica may be used in some curricula and research communities to describe this convergence of technology and rehabilitation; it is often used interchangeably with prosthetics, though some authors prefer a broader scope that includes sensory restoration and advanced integration with the nervous system.