Hold Fast: 5 Reasons the ProHook Builds Confidence

Hold Fast: 5 Reasons the ProHook Builds Confidence

For many upper-limb amputees, real confidence in a prosthetic device isn’t just about how it looks, it’s about how well it performs in daily life. That’s why we created the ProHook: the only modular Voluntary Closing & Locking (VC&L) terminal device available today for users who need confidence, reliability, and durability that keeps up with real life.

A VC&L works by letting the user close the device voluntarily, adjust grip force naturally, and lock it in place — giving them a secure hold without constant muscle effort.

Here are five reasons a VC&L like the ProHook can help amputees hold fast and feel more confident doing it.

1. Holding a Grip Without Constant Effort

One of the biggest sources of fatigue for users of traditional body-powered devices is the need to maintain constant tension to keep an object secure. With a VC&L device, the user can lock their grip in place. This means they don’t have to keep their muscles engaged just to hold onto something, the device does that work for them. Less fatigue means more trust in the device throughout the day.

2. Adjusting Grip Strength — And Feeling It

A VC&L device gives the user control over how tightly they grip an object, light enough for a paper cup, strong enough for a heavy tool. Because the user’s own body powers the closing motion, they can feel the resistance through the harness and cables. That natural feedback builds confidence in handling fragile or awkward items safely.

3. Keeping Things Secure — No Surprise Slips

Accidental drops are frustrating at best and dangerous at worst. The locking feature on a VC&L keeps the grasp secure until the user chooses to release it. They don’t have to worry about losing grip because of muscle fatigue or cable tension loss. That extra layer of security helps people trust their prosthesis during all kinds of tasks.

4. The Closest Thing to Electric — Without Batteries

While advanced electric hands use motors and sensors to mimic natural grasp, they’re not always practical for every user or environment. Research has shown that device abandonment is often related to unreliability, repairs, or poor fit (Biddiss & Chau, Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 2007). A VC&L device can offer similar functional benefits — variable grip force, the ability to hold positions, intuitive control — but without the need for batteries or complex electronics. This makes them dependable, affordable, and easier to maintain.

5. Staying in Control — On Your Terms

Perhaps most importantly, a VC&L lets the user set their device where they want it: fully open, partly open, or locked closed. They can pause mid-task, rest when they need to, and stay in sync with their own natural rhythm. That freedom to focus on the task — not just the prosthesis — helps people get on with life feeling more capable and independent.

Built to Keep Up With Real Life

Studies have long shown that functionality, reliability, and comfort are among the top reasons users stick with or abandon their devices. By giving people better control, natural feedback, and the ability to trust their grip, a VC&L like the ProHook supports daily activities in a way that traditional body-powered or electric devices alone often can’t.

As the only modular VC&L terminal device available today, the ProHook is designed for real life — durable, user-serviceable, and made to build lasting confidence every step of the way.

Reference:
Biddiss, E., & Chau, T. (2007). Upper limb prosthesis use and abandonment: A survey of the last 25 years. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 2(3), 155–163.