Skating for leg Amputees

[AgnesNitt]

The blade doesn't look real, but the prosthetic looks interesting.  Designed for hockey.

http://www.designbuzz.com/powerplay-prosthetic-leg-to-let-amputees-play-aggressive-games-again/

[rd350]

Whoa!  That is amazing!

This is freaking me out a bit - because, I have a PT background and so I tend to think of these things and was seriously just thinking about this.... what if.  I was thinking jumps would be very difficult because of the pressure (which is always an issue anyway) but just being able to glide and be on the ice, though I'm sure someone would seriously rock more than just gliding.

A few weeks ago on a lesson, there was another instructor on the ice, arms intertwined like 2 people strolling in the park, with a man in his 80's, possibly  90's who had really good skates on.  He looked familiar but I didn't want to stare.  He seemed to have Parkinson's (my best guess) and the high level instructor just had him out gliding, arm in arm, on the ice for a half hour.  It was simply beautiful and I thought I want someone to do that for me someday if I can't do it myself.

That's what got my physical therapy brain thinking of various scenarios and skating.

Thanks for sharing this!

[rd350]

P.S. This does look more of a prototype than real but still really cool!

[nicklaszlo]

It looks like a computer model.

[accordion]

There are two amputees at my rink, both below knee amputees. One is a single leg and plays hockey in one of the amateur recreational leagues. You would never know from watching him skate that he has a prosthesis. The other is a double amputee, she was a very high level skater prior to losing her legs. She is gently getting back into skating, mostly laps.

Both use their standard prostheses in their skates and add high density foam to pack around the ankle joint.

[ChristyRN]

Years back, when I was early in LTS, there was a child skater at the rink that had a prostetic leg. I only saw her the one time and only after she got off ice, so I can't say how her skating was. She may have been in the 8-10 year old range.

[AgnesNitt]

There are two amputees at my rink, both below knee amputees. One is a single leg and plays hockey in one of the amateur recreational leagues. You would never know from watching him skate that he has a prosthesis. The other is a double amputee, she was a very high level skater prior to losing her legs. She is gently getting back into skating, mostly laps.

Both use their standard prostheses in their skates and add high density foam to pack around the ankle joint.

Yeah, I remember from reading "Out on a Limb" that if you can save the knee, it gives you a lot more options.