Experienced Amputee Perspective RE: Sach and AK

Experienced Amputee Perspective RE: Sach and AK

Colleagues,
This post was sent to me and I am posting it to the list for the valuable
perspective it contains. -Mark Benveniste CP

Mark:

You probably know my opinions on the SACH foot already - but I'll
remind you anyway. Please keep in mind this is from practical
experience using the SACH foot from 1983-1990.

First of all a foot such as the SACH was far better than the foot I
had before it (some Blatchford boat anchor thing). However, after
using the SACH for 7 years and moving on to the Seattle Foot, I swore
I'd never go back. After using the Seattle foot and going to a
Seattle lite, I swore I'd never go back to the Seattle. After using a
Flex Walk for a few years I swore I'd never go back to the Seattle
lite. After using the Flex Foot Re-Flex I swore I'd never go back to
the Flex Walk.

My point is relevance. If the AK amputee has never used anything
more than a SACH foot then he or she will never know any better until
she or he has the opportunity to do so. The SACH foot will be the
greatest foot he or she has used until that point.

To say the SACH can be fully optimised by correct aligment is the
same as saying any foot can be optimised by the best aligment. A
misaligned Re-Flex can be feel horrible also!

In this day and age - I cannot believe the term SACH foot is still
being used. SACH foot is ancient history, no functioning amputee
(above level 2 or more) should be on one. The only use for a SACH is
for cosmetic purposes or as I have seen in one facility to be used as
a doorstop!

All the SACH feet in North America should shipped off Cambodia or
Angola where they are needed and budget allows for nothing else.

How is the level of technological advancement in this industry to
progress if we hold on to standards set the SACH foot. It is the
equivalent of an XT or original Mac in the computer world - we have
moved on and expect better.

If you want to repost this to oandp feel free to do so.

Thanks

=================================================
Ian Gregson ( <Email Address Redacted> )
Amputee WEB Site <> AMPUTATION Online Magazine
<URL Redacted>
Moderator Amputee & D-Sport Listservs
icq # 27356900
=================================================