Re: Prosthesis & Biking
Vincent Gest
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: Prosthesis & Biking
Creator:
Vincent Gest
Date:
10/5/2006
Text:
Just thought I'd throw in a suggestion for the pedal retention system used
on the prosthetic side. I have a few prosthetic mountain bikers who found
the Power Grips easier to use than a traditional toe cage. Here's an online
company that sells the Power Grips.
<URL Redacted>
A traditional toe cage only allowed the riders to put the ball of the
prosthetic foot on the fulcrum point of the pedal, also known as the
spindle, creating an extension moment at the knee. This has obvious affects
on the internal forces applied to a TT socket and external moments on a
prosthetic knee unit.
In rougher terrain, one user's prosthetic foot had a tendency to slip off
the pedal. He didn't like the idea of cinching down the toe cage straps
because it made dismounting more difficult.
The Power Grips allowed the users to put more of the foot onto the pedal.
The riders said they felt more stable when standing in the pedals and didn't
slip off the pedal when riding rough terrain.
Hope this helps! Vince
Vincent Gest, CP
Prosthetic & Orthotic Group, Inc.
805-278-8120
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail transmission and any attachment(s)
contain confidential and/or legally privileged information intended for use
by the individual (s) or entity named in the e-mail addresses above. If you
are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review,
disclosure, copying, distribution or reliance upon the contents of this
e-mail and any attachment(s) is strictly prohibited and could subject you to
penalties described in Federal and State law. If you have received this
e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately via e-mail or
telephone and delete this transmittal from your files. Thank you.
----Original Message Follows----
From: Craig Armstrong < <Email Address Redacted> >
Reply-To: Craig Armstrong < <Email Address Redacted> >
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: Re: [OANDP-L] T/F Biking
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2006 13:00:07 -0600
I'm a congenital T/F amputee and a prosthetist. I used to mountain
bike frequently in my younger years and have found that pedaling while
standing is extremely difficult to do while trying to make complete
revolutions. I will occasionally stand and pump the pedals back and forth,
but this is not effective for long climbs. My suggestion would be to find a
comfortable seat height that allows for almost complete leg extension while
still enabling the rider to stop safely. This gives them the most power.
Once a good seat height is established just stay in the saddle and get
comfortable for those long climbs. I've found that dropping into an easy
gear and maintaining a higher pedal cadence improves climbing endurance
rather than trying to muscle it. For downhill section, by all means stand
up. The extra shock absorbtion from the sound limb will really save the
back and hind parts.
I did not begin riding bikes with toeclips on my pedals, but have found
they are a great addition to my bike. Clipless pedals can offer a greater
degree of efficiency, but can be a challenge to get in and out of. Shimano
pedals are the best and easiest, however. A good compromise would be to use
a regular toe clip on the prosthetic side to keep the foot on the pedal when
the going get rough, but is easy to get into. I hope my feedback has been
helpful.
Craig Armstrong, CP
on the prosthetic side. I have a few prosthetic mountain bikers who found
the Power Grips easier to use than a traditional toe cage. Here's an online
company that sells the Power Grips.
<URL Redacted>
A traditional toe cage only allowed the riders to put the ball of the
prosthetic foot on the fulcrum point of the pedal, also known as the
spindle, creating an extension moment at the knee. This has obvious affects
on the internal forces applied to a TT socket and external moments on a
prosthetic knee unit.
In rougher terrain, one user's prosthetic foot had a tendency to slip off
the pedal. He didn't like the idea of cinching down the toe cage straps
because it made dismounting more difficult.
The Power Grips allowed the users to put more of the foot onto the pedal.
The riders said they felt more stable when standing in the pedals and didn't
slip off the pedal when riding rough terrain.
Hope this helps! Vince
Vincent Gest, CP
Prosthetic & Orthotic Group, Inc.
805-278-8120
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail transmission and any attachment(s)
contain confidential and/or legally privileged information intended for use
by the individual (s) or entity named in the e-mail addresses above. If you
are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review,
disclosure, copying, distribution or reliance upon the contents of this
e-mail and any attachment(s) is strictly prohibited and could subject you to
penalties described in Federal and State law. If you have received this
e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately via e-mail or
telephone and delete this transmittal from your files. Thank you.
----Original Message Follows----
From: Craig Armstrong < <Email Address Redacted> >
Reply-To: Craig Armstrong < <Email Address Redacted> >
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: Re: [OANDP-L] T/F Biking
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2006 13:00:07 -0600
I'm a congenital T/F amputee and a prosthetist. I used to mountain
bike frequently in my younger years and have found that pedaling while
standing is extremely difficult to do while trying to make complete
revolutions. I will occasionally stand and pump the pedals back and forth,
but this is not effective for long climbs. My suggestion would be to find a
comfortable seat height that allows for almost complete leg extension while
still enabling the rider to stop safely. This gives them the most power.
Once a good seat height is established just stay in the saddle and get
comfortable for those long climbs. I've found that dropping into an easy
gear and maintaining a higher pedal cadence improves climbing endurance
rather than trying to muscle it. For downhill section, by all means stand
up. The extra shock absorbtion from the sound limb will really save the
back and hind parts.
I did not begin riding bikes with toeclips on my pedals, but have found
they are a great addition to my bike. Clipless pedals can offer a greater
degree of efficiency, but can be a challenge to get in and out of. Shimano
pedals are the best and easiest, however. A good compromise would be to use
a regular toe clip on the prosthetic side to keep the foot on the pedal when
the going get rough, but is easy to get into. I hope my feedback has been
helpful.
Craig Armstrong, CP
Citation
Vincent Gest, “Re: Prosthesis & Biking,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/227509.
