In 1812, a prosthetic arm was developed that could be controlled by the opposite shoulder with connecting straps — somewhat similar to how brakes are controlled on a bike.
Well-designed prosthetics deliver functionality and are cosmetically pleasing, but they also serve to complete an amputee’s sense of wholeness. A prosthesis provides mobility as well as emotional comfort. The history of prosthetics is not only a scientific history, but the story of human beings since the dawn of civilization who by birth, wound, or accident were left with a missing limb. A wide variety of materials are used to create the actual limb, including acrylic resin, carbon fiber, thermoplastics, silicone, aluminum, and titanium. To create a life-like appearance, a foam cover can be applied and shaped to match the real limb.
History: The earliest example of a prosthesis ever discovered was found in Egypt and dated to between 950-710 B.C.E.
Prosthetics continued to advance up to and after the Second World War, when many other countries, including Canada, instituted their own Advisory Committees to continue improving artificial limbs in collaboration with Britain.
The origins of The War Amps trace back to September 23, 1918, when the Amputation Club of British Columbia held its first meeting. It was the first of many groups of war amputees across Canada to organize and, eventually, to amalgamate into a national organization.