AMPUTEE TIPS - HOW TO walk SLOPES and HILLS - KICKASS GAIT 2
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 22 авг 2020
- HOW TO deal with HILLS and SLOPES, Inclines and Declines as an AMPUTEE. In this video I do a HOW TO and SHARE MY TIPS.
ENJOY!!!
I have been an AMPUTEE since 2004.
In 2000 I had a paragliding accident, after which I struggled with complications of my left leg. Constant infections and acute, chronic pain pushed me to the point where I considered amputation. Ultimately it was the right decision, which opened up a completely different life to me.
Today I am a happy amputee. In this channel I aim to share what it is that got me to this space. I hope that you find your own happiness, despite, and even because of, the struggles of becoming an amputee :-)
I'm currently writing an adventure story where the protagonist loses his leg from the knee down near the beginning of the story. I'm not an amputee and until I started writing this, I had very little experience of what it was like to walk with a prosthetic leg, let alone hike around the wilderness. Your videos have helped me a great deal in figuring out how he will get around in the world. The video you posted awhile back where you went hiking with your prosthetic plus the cruches actually made me think it would be much easier for him to do the same rather than just the false leg.
The Limping Fugitive?
I've been watching your videos for a year now. August 21, 2021, I was put through my left lower leg amp, and February 16, 2022, the right. I love what you teach, and I'm trying my best to learn. Thank you for being who you are, thank you for teaching me and advising me. You're truly a gift to my life, and I care. Thank you again, Sir.
Hi Sharon, thank you for your kind words, and taking the time to share your experience.
I'm sorry to hear you've had such a big loss, and hope you find quality of life as an amputee and mange all the challenges we face following such a process.
It makes me really happy to hear the video's have been helpful, it motivates me to create more content and to share with everyone.
Please keep in touch, take care, I wish you healing and wellness going forward.
I’ve watched this video several times. I really still struggle with downward slopes. My C Leg knee doesn’t want to bend and I just have to kind of stiff leg it down the hill. I didn’t pick up on bending the sound leg. I will try again tomorrow using that technique. I also haven’t mastered the recovery step, that’s something else I am going to work on. Your videos have been invaluable to me and I have shared them with my therapist. She incorporates your techniques into my training. Thanks again
Awesome to see you again, bro. Not many times do I hear the word “robustness.” I miss that! Onward!
Hi Worth!! Robust ... one of my fave words, its so descriptive. Great to hear from you again, hope you're well.
Awesome video as always, been missing you! How’s the wife and kids? I’ve got to check my notifications because it just now let me know you released a new video. Anyway Chris I hope your doing good, I just got approved for social security disability about two weeks ago so I’ll finally be able to get another socket. I’m on my fourth one right now and it’s not big enough that’s why I’m still having problems but I’m going to make sure this one fits plus I’ve changed prostheticians so hopefully we’ll be able to get it right this time. Anyway you have lifted my day and made it better very informative video because walking up and down slopes is my biggest problem!! Thanks so much Chris, we love you from Jackson, Ms!!!!!!!
Aah so nice to get a message from you again! You put a smile on my face this morning :-)
I'm real good thanks, healthy and happy. Our clinic where I worked closed, so im expanding my practice to include more online counselling work. Already doing work in Australia, the UK, Dudai, Germany ... etc. Exciting times!
So good to hear you're getting a new socket! Make this one count, its so critical for our quality of life.
I love you too mate, sending it right back at ya!
This is a super-valuable video, Chris! I've been an LAKA for almost 48 years on mechanical knees. Everything you showed (except the Proprio foot) is something I had to figure out on my own. The 'recovery hop/step' is especially important - I didn't have a name for that until now. Always have a plan for how you will approach any terrain. I wish it were otherwise, but always keep your eyes on the ground ahead of you. Nearly all of my (rare) falls have been when I was not paying attention.
Thanks so much for all the comments you've made on the video's! I appreciate the feedback and it is super helpful for everyone else following the channel. You're spot on, environmental and terrain awareness is key, always scanning and adapting.
Please keep on sharing your thoughts, I really value all the comments and suggestions by the community, and I'm often surprised by how the conversations expand and info is exchanged.
I'll be live streaming soon, I hope to see you there and please bring the questions and advice you have for us to discuss, have fun, and improve our amputee experience.
All the best mate!
So gutted I’ve only just seen this! Fab post again Chris! Great to see you ...That cheeky hop recovery step is a real lifesaver. I use it all the time especially going for a nice walk in the countryside. Going down slopes and stairs can feel a bit like semi controlled falling 🤣😂 even now I’m ok at doing it. Hiking poles or Nordic walking poles are so handy especially when your still learning or building confidence with your new prosthetic on rough terrain or slopes or hills. The rheo XC really does support you so well going down slopes compared to the crab walk you have to do with a hydraulic/mechanical knees. Do you find wearing both the rheo XC and the proprio foot slightly heavier to swing thru? (With them both having the microprocessors which tend to weight more) I imagine If you’re socket fit is spot on you don’t really notice the weight as much but if your volume fluctuates a lot on your residual limb, do you feel the weight more or it’s more tiring to use until you add or remove a sock or adjust the boa dial or fastener? I’ve seen how amazing the proprio foot is, but was curios how the weight of the whole set up (I have the rheo XC and the Proflex XC set up with the infinite socket) 🤗🦿🤗
Great video thanks. I'm BK left leg and that hot step has saved me more then I can count. I need to use my arms more plus I find myself slowly going back into a slouch position to look at the floor. Still trying to stay straight up without thinking about it too much.
Yeah that step is so crucial. I like how you call it a "hot step" - I'm going to steal that from you if that's OK!
The suggestion to push you hips forward, as if someone is pulling you with a strap wrapped behind your butt, really helps to keep the back in line. Also the "sky hook" effect works well - give it a try and let us know please.
All the best with the changes!
@@theampedlife hi Chris, hope all is well. Haha yes mate using the 'hot step' is a saver, use it as much as you like😅. It's been almost a week of 'sky hook' walking and its been great! Thanks for your help, I was kinda struggling with it for a while but I think I'm almost there. I can get a mile done in 23 mins now🙆🏽♂️. Thanks for the help.
Hi Chris, didnt spoke with you anymore but i wanted to say thanks for you help and guidance. Keep up the great work on these videos and have fun with photography. Greets, love and peace.
Excellent. I will be saving this for reference. Thanks.
I am a Highlander , 9000 ft. And after my amputation I have not gone up. This video gives me confidence to walk again. Just wanted some tips when when moving up up and down on rocks.
samajhdar prani Hi Samajhdar, it makes me happy to hear that you feel more confident to do what you love doing. Please let us know how your walking goes, I love hearing from you all. All the best!
Wow it's like you described me and how I have been and hold myself
Thanks for the message mate, and it sounds like you're doing well then!
Very informative! Thank you so much!
Hi Michelle, thank you for watching and for giving feedback. Please let me know if you would like me to cover any specific content, suggestions are always helpful and appreciated.
Take care!
Hi darling child so delighted with fabulous info you give to all of us. 💛💚
Great information in your videos. I am an above knee amputee trying to get my gait smoother. I am applying your tips in my practice. Thanks for doing the videos. I started my journey two years ago after a motorcycle accident. I was 70 then, but I was never one to quit or look for excuses. I never thought learning to walk would be this hard. I got an Ottobock C Leg in March this year and have really enjoyed some dramatic progress as a result. Hopefully I will walk as confidently as you do one day.
Thank you again for the feedback, as with the exercise video.
We have a few things in common! I too love motorcycles, I don't do quitting and I never blame. These beliefs have made me stronger, and clearly has helped you too.
The C Leg is a great knee, and you should become as confident as your courage allows you to. I wish you the best with this, please keep in touch and join us in the live streaming events - will be great to see you there and maybe read a comment from you, answer a question or just to connect with the others. Go well!
Is there a schedule for your live streaming events? I would like to watch one and see if there is anything I can share or take advantage of any information.
Not a fixed schedule, but I plan to start with a few soon again.
If you're subscribed to the channel, and you click the notification button, you will get advanced notification form me.
Also make sure your device settings is set to deliver You Tube subscriber notifications.
Hope to see you there, be sure to say hi for a hello! @@jackusan
Well done Chris. This a work in progress for me. LOL! I must ask my prosthetist about my foot or a foot that is best suited for slopes/hills. Will see her in about 3 weeks.
Hi David, how did it go with the prosthetist, did you choose a foot?
Every walked down a staircase where one step from a few millimeters higher or lower than the rest? It's super easy to trip or throw you off balance. That's how sensitive our body is to small differences in the terrain when were walking.
Great video man! Quick question: I've been a BK amputee since November but due to some complications I'm told they have to cut off more of my leg. The doc is saying a mid-knee amputation is best. He says the surface of my femur is already used to impact and its smooth, etc. My concern is having a fake knee that is not symmetrical with my other knee. I really could care less about aesthetics, my concern is function. I want to just blindly trust the doctors advice but in my past experience, every surgery since my accident ive been told the same thing: dont worry, it will be fine, were going to fix it, etc. I was hearing that when I still had a leg, and through all the surgeries that were supposed to save my leg, right up to the day they told me it was going to have to be removed. So now I'm being told that this mid knee amputation is best and while I want to just go with it, it almost feels like these doctors are saying what they think I want to hear. I want them to be done so I can move on with life. Anybody here with a similar situation? Any advice, suggestions, recommendations are welcome and greatly appreciated. Thanks again for the content. Sorry for the long comment/question.
Hey man (missed your name..?) Thanks for the comment and an often asked question in the work I do. I have a through knee, also elective, I had the choice of above or through too.
I opted for the TK and I've never regretted it. I guess were all different in our bodies and needs, however I did a lot of research, spoke to a lot of other amps and it seems that generally it is the preferred way to go.
I have had no issues with asymmetrical posture and no secondary problems because of it, and like you I am not bothered about aesthetics (other than liking the look of my prosthetic gear!).
In the end my hardest lessons were learnt in choice of prosthetist. This is the person who (with the best of intentions I'm sure) caused me the most problems initially. I now have someone who has improved my quality of life drastically by getting the combination of leg, socket, foot, and suspension 100% right.
I believe in the TK as it gives you the most leverage and its true about the femur being intact giving the best support. I have hiked for miles for days on end and never had issues with the TK choice during or after these outings.
In the end it's your body, your choice, your future. I think that your way of life should determine a large part of this decision. If you're more inclined to be physically passive I think the choice can be either, however I really believe that a TK is best for an active, mobile lifestyle.
I wish you the best with your choice and the outcome! Please stay in touch and let us know, your experience and wisdom will benefit many other amps on this channel.
Take care mate!
@@theampedlife Thanks Chris. Sorry for the name thing. If your asking my name is Ja (pronounced Jay). Wow! That's exactly what I needed to hear. Looking at your prosthetic I just assumed it was higher up. If you cant tell, I'm obviously not very knowledgeable in this whole amputee lifestyle thing. I should probably be more involved and educated. Hopefully my ignorance is not offensive. I'm just a guy that had an accident and am doing my best to recover, reestablish, and get on with life. Whew! I really cant express how much relief I just got reading your response. I'm going to go ahead with the further amputation in mid September if possible and I'll be going back through your videos to pay closer attention and learn what I can. Hopefully we can talk again in the future. Thanks again brother!
@@MrJalowery Thanks Ja, I really don't see your questions as ignorance. To me it looks like healthy curiosity and that is certainly not offensive - I respect that you are researching the issue. Please never hesitate to ask me any questions, it is exactly what this Chanel is all about, to share our journeys, struggles, and solutions.
Im sure we will talk again mate, take care!!
PS Please let me know how the surgery turned out, and all the best with that.
Nice stride 👍🏻
Is the recovery step actually a 'step followed by a hop' on the good leg? And only to be done while going downhill? I don't have the confidence to take my eyes off the ground yet at 7 mos. But it's on my wishlist. I also have this horrible fear of being out and about, and not being able to get back.
The step is all on the sound side (good leg). Its to re-transfer all the balance away from the prosthetic side once it seems that the prosthesis is giving way. I use it in any situation - slopes, uneven and flat surfaces. Only on wet surfaces that it is very risky for obvious reasons.
Take your time, it took me a few years to find my mojo and to feel comfortable. I understand you fear, if it helps take collapsable crutches, that way you have a back up - I still do this sometimes.
All the best!
What’s a good foot as it is I can’t go up any incline and my doc just keeps putting it off to get a new foot
Hi Thomas.
First choice is the Össur Proprio.
Second is an Össur too, but the Proflex LP Torsion.
I’ve walked 100s of K’s with both, hills, mountains, stairs, inclines. No problems, very few stumbles.
All the best with your search 👍
I think I walk like a duck all the time until my son tells me my legs are a bit wide🤣
Thanks for making me lol! I guess we all have our own little compensatory moves when we walk - I tend to lurch when I'm in a hurry :-)
@@theampedlife I get told to slow down all the time. I get carried away and start to skip to speed up 😂