Cycling with Prosthetic leg problems

paddie9

My brother lost his leg a year ago, below the knee. We're building a bike for him (kind of occupational therapy). It's a Raleigh 531.
We've 2 problems the prosthetic leg forces out away from the bike and off the pedal. Also he finds it hard to push down on the prosthetic leg it kind of pops up.
I know I've cycled with at least 2 very fit guys with prosthetic legs, any ideas to help would be great.

Bloggsie

good morning paddie9, best of luck with the project. I sorry to say that I am not in a position to offer any practical advice on this project.

My tuppence worth would be to seek out cyclists or groups that are in a similar position as your brother for advice, encouragement and any assistance they can provide both to you on the bike build and to your brother on the physical and mental side of cycling with a prosthetic limb.

paddie9

I was hoping someone with experience would let me know here. Non competitive Irish Groups are not advertising online.

lescol

Good luck with your project. Cycling using a prosthetic limb has it's own difficulties, some would use a specific cycling leg, others would adapt the bike. I imagine the "popping up" experienced is due to the rear of the socket contacting the rear of the knee and levering the stump out of the socket and as he pushes down extending the knee the stump slides back into position, this will create friction and huge potential for blisters! The solution for this if using the normal walking leg is to shorten the crank so less knee bend occurs.

Interesting solutions on this blog:- http://amputeecycling.blogspot.ie/

Crank shorteners and pedal extenders can be obtained in the UK here:- http://highpath.co.uk/

paddie9

lescol wrote: »

Good luck with your project. Cycling using a prosthetic limb has it's own difficulties, some would use a specific cycling leg, others would adapt the bike. I imagine the "popping up" experienced is due to the rear of the socket contacting the rear of the knee and levering the stump out of the socket and as he pushes down extending the knee the stump slides back into position, this will create friction and huge potential for blisters! The solution for this if using the normal walking leg is to shorten the crank so less knee bend occurs.

Interesting solutions on this blog:- http://amputeecycling.blogspot.ie/

Crank shorteners and pedal extenders can be obtained in the UK here:- http://highpath.co.uk/

Crank shortener sounds like the easiest first try. Quite expensive though.

Paralympic Cyclist

Email me at <snip>- I'm a below-knee amputee and cyclist on the Irish Paralympic team. I can probably help quite a bit!


Colin

Beasty

Colin

Was thinking of you when I saw this thread crop up

I've removed your e-mail as you can get all sorts of cranks trying to contact you when you put it in a public place like this

I will forward it via PM to the OP though

Paralympic Cyclist

Beasty wrote: »

I will forward it via PM to the OP though

No probs Paul and thanks.

Comma

paddie9 wrote:

My brother lost his leg a year ago, below the knee. We're building a bike for him (kind of occupational therapy). It's a Raleigh 531. We've 2 problems the prosthetic leg forces out away from the bike and off the pedal. Also he finds it hard to push down on the prosthetic leg it kind of pops up. I know I've cycled with at least 2 very fit guys with prosthetic legs, any ideas to help would be great.

There are a couple of contacts on the Paracycling area of the Cycling Ireland website. Both are very nice and knowledgeable guys. It might be worth having a chat.

AndrewJRenko

I'm no expert, but have you tried using old-fashioned cage-type toe clips to keep the foot in position?

paddie9

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

I'm no expert, but have you tried using old-fashioned cage-type toe clips to keep the foot in position?

He's not steady on his feet yet.
Getting some advice, trying mountain bike pedals.going to use box until then with screws tacked in

AndrewJRenko

paddie9 wrote: »

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

I'm no expert, but have you tried using old-fashioned cage-type toe clips to keep the foot in position?

He's not steady on his feet yet.
Getting some advice, trying mountain bike pedals.going to use box until then with screws tacked in

Would it work with just one clip, on the side of the prosthetic foot?

paddie9

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Would it work with just one clip, on the side of the prosthetic foot?

Maybe in time. He had leg removed due to health reasons and is in the process of building up. I wouldn't chance him be unable to unclip for now.
Thanks

AndrewJRenko

paddie9 wrote: »

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Would it work with just one clip, on the side of the prosthetic foot?

Maybe in time. He had leg removed due to health reasons and is in the process of building up. I wouldn't chance him be unable to unclip for now.
Thanks

Just to be clear, I'm not talking about the current generation of clip-in shoes - I'm talking about the previous generation of cage-like toe clips. You can get them with or without straps. It is really easy to get in and out if you use them without straps - just a sideways movement of the foot. Do you get me?

marvin42

maybe a magnetic lock can be a solution for you problem to fix the shoe from shifting sideways:

there are homemade solutions (video at 0.44 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uStO4gUz7aY

or ready made options:

http://www.magnetpedal.de/

or special pedals (page 59 "special pedals")

http://hasebikes.com/files/hasebikes_catalog_2017_en.pdf

and

http://www.mainvelo.de/reha/antriebszubehoer/kurbelverkuerzer-pedalpendel-invalidenkurbel-pedalachsverlaengerung.htm


let me know if you need more info or translation of the german products

paddie9

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

paddie9 wrote: »

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Would it work with just one clip, on the side of the prosthetic foot?

Maybe in time. He had leg removed due to health reasons and is in the process of building up. I wouldn't chance him be unable to unclip for now.
Thanks

Just to be clear, I'm not talking about the current generation of clip-in shoes - I'm talking about the previous generation of cage-like toe clips. You can get them with or without straps. It is really easy to get in and out if you use them without straps - just a sideways movement of the foot. Do you get me?

These problems are very individual in this case the natural position of his foot is much deeper than that would allow.
He's cycling with the middle of his foot rather than the top. Although that might change as we adjust.

paddie9

marvin42 wrote: »

maybe a magnetic lock can be a solution for you problem to fix the shoe from shifting sideways:

there are homemade solutions (video at 0.44 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uStO4gUz7aY

or ready made options:

http://www.magnetpedal.de/

or special pedals (page 59 "special pedals")

http://hasebikes.com/files/hasebikes_catalog_2017_en.pdf

and

http://www.mainvelo.de/reha/antriebszubehoer/kurbelverkuerzer-pedalpendel-invalidenkurbel-pedalachsverlaengerung.htm


let me know if you need more info or translation of the german products

yeah thanks might do that got a few ideas off Colin we're trying slow going