Name: Jill
Posting: 4
Topic: Technology
Title: A Once-Unthinkable Choice for Amputees
Author: Alexis Okeowo
Publication: NY Times, May 14, 2012
Legnth: 680 words

In August 2007 in New York, Ann Kornhouser broke, and then had to remove some of her foot. The prosthetic foot that she was given put her into discomfort, and she was offered a solution. The solution was to remove more of her leg in order to fit a better prosthetic that gives her the option to do a wider range of normal leg activities. The leg Ann has now is life like, with skin like material and toes. Now, people are turning their focus from preserving the most of their limbs. The new importance is taking the right amount of limb to fit one of the new improved legs in order to be able continue normal activities. People are turning to this option because it allows for more prosthetic comfort and more lifelike use. The new prosthetic limbs also have technology such as adjusting heel height. In a similar story in 2003, David Rozelle decided to have nine more inches amputated after having his foot removed. This was in order to be able to fit into a below the knee prosthesis.

The change that is beginning in this part of the health world is a conflicting one. The previous standard of keeping as much body as possible was for obvious reasons, the natural desire to keep the body whole. This is contradicted by the eased life of those benefiting from the new technology. Because many of the people that are put into possibly limb risking situations are usually active, there is no doubt that that crowd of people has interest and use for the unconventional new practice.