Summarized response to TF running prosthesis

Summarized response to TF running prosthesis

Custom Prosthetic Services Ltd.

12/5/2006

Original post

I have a young & active female patient who is interested in long distance running. She is currently wearing a suction MAS socket, Mauch SnS knee unit and Elation Foot. She has a very long residual limb with excellent strength and ROM in the hip of the affected side.

I am interested in fitting her with a Flex-Run foot to meet her goals. As I have no experience with this foot or fitting a transfemoral amputee with a running foot, I was hoping to get some input regarding foot choice, hydraulic adjustments, alignment adjustments and any other words of wisdom that may save both myself and my client time and trouble.

Thanks in advance,
W.James Little, B.Sc., C.P.(c)
<Email Address Redacted>
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RESPONSES

Hi James,

I have attached a small booklet that was put together regarding all aspects of training the amputee athlete - Australian style, as well as alignment & componentry recommendations from the team at apcprosthetics (previously Advanced Prosthetics Centre). You can find out more about the team at www.apcprosthetics.com.au .

I hope that this assists you with your treatment.

Cheers
Fiona

Fiona Barnett
Senior Advisor, Clinical & Technical Services
Össur Asia Pacific

Tel. +61-2-9630-9206
Mobile +61-419-631-128
Fax +61-2-9630-9268
E-mail <Email Address Redacted>
www.ossur.com
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Good foot choice! I would loose the stance control feature in her knee. It often creates problems for runners. You can order the Mauch unit with swing phase control only.

Jim Young, CP FAAOP
Amputee Prosthetic Clinic
Tifton, GA.
888FAKELEG
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Hi James,

  Does your patient already know how to run? We always taught our patient how to run with there every day leg first, and once they have the timing balance and strength, then we move them to a designated running leg.I have worked with Todd Schaffauser and currently have a couple or runners getting ready for paralympics.Todd is very good.His web site is www.dynamictrainingseries.com I have some great clips of other AK's running if you would like.
It's allot of fun good luck
Wade Skardoutos CP
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James,

A few suggestions to consider on your set-up:

1. add auxiliary suspension such as belt
2. follow the instructions that come with the foot for bench alignment
3. increase the overall height of the prosthesis to account for the excursion
4. glue the tread from her running shoe on the bottom of the foot with black loctite adhesive or similar
5. start training with no knee (she'll have to circumduct). once her timing is down, adding a knee will be easy
6. consider using a lighter weight knee (polycentric since she's long) with hydraulic swing only unit.
7. adjust the knee swing settings to promote accelerated knee extension (i.e. increased flexion resistance/ decreased extension resist).
8. follow Gailey's steps to AK running training (you can find this on the internet). This entails forceful hip extension and rapid hip flexion.

Hope this helps! Zach Harvey, CPO
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You need to contact Ossur/Flex Foot and ask them for help. They have the
best info available for this.

I recently got myself a Flex Foot to run distances, and got step by step
instructions from them to get it aligned correctly and everything.

Good luck,

Jim DeWees, CP