The leg line up

From left to right: Ottobock Genium X3, Ottobock 3R80 and surf leg

You might not know it but often amputees have more than one leg. Different legs have different features and purposes, depending on what you want to achieve.

Being an above knee amputee, I am essentially missing a knee and an ankle joint and therefore prosthetics become much more complex. I have trialled a range of prosthetics from extremely basic legs which are pretty much a door hinge, to more high tech microprocessor knee joints which provide constant feedback through an internal computer system to help increase safety and gait fluidity. These microprocessor knees which have onboard computer systems need to be connected to lap tops where personalised data is entered by the clinician to suit the user and they need to be plugged in and charged over night.

The Genium X3 is my everyday leg. This knee joint has cutting edge features such as taking stairs step-over-step, bike riding mode, golf mode and intuitive stance which helps enables a more efficient relaxed stance position. This leg has allowed me to live a more active and independent life and most importantly I am yet to have a fall on it, making me have increased trust and confidence in the leg working beneath me.

This leg has been essential in allowing me to partake in my everyday activities, but also for my line of work. As a carpenter I constantly climb up and down ladders, balance on roofs and beams and carry heavy tools and materials across uneven work sites. With the Genium X3 I can now do this confidently and safely. This leg is also highly durable and water resistant which are key factors for an outside occupation, but also my everyday leisure activities.

The 3R80 has a hydraulic knee joint and is a specific water leg. Whilst it doesn’t have anywhere near the degree of technology as the Genium it is more my thrash around water leg.

My surf leg was designed and collaboratively created with my clinician. The knee joint is locked at an angle to mimic my back leg crouched in a bent position. As there is no movement at the knee joint it is incredibly difficult to walk in, and therefore is only used for surfing.

Hope that answers some questions you might have had around prosthetics and how they work.

Chris