Sports and Recreation for Those with Lower Limb Amputation or ...
Sports and Recreation for Those with Lower Limb Amputation or ...
Sports and Recreation for Those with Lower Limb Amputation or ...
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Boating<br />
aptation. F<strong>or</strong> example, if an individua!has<br />
arm mobility to row, the<br />
only adjustment necessary may<br />
be to the length of the oars. To<br />
ensure proper balance <strong>and</strong> mobility,<br />
oars should be carefully selected<br />
<strong>with</strong> consideration to their<br />
weight, durability, <strong>and</strong> length . Custom-contoured<br />
seats are routinely<br />
adapted <strong>f<strong>or</strong></strong> those <strong>with</strong> lower limb<br />
impairment to permit these individua!ato<br />
sit com<strong>f<strong>or</strong></strong>tably <strong>f<strong>or</strong></strong> prolonged<br />
periods of time.<br />
There are many easy <strong>and</strong> inexpensive<br />
modifications that can be<br />
added to a rowboat, enabling the<br />
individual <strong>with</strong> amputation to participate<br />
in this physically energizing<br />
recreation <strong>f<strong>or</strong></strong>m . Prostheses,<br />
too, have been effectively adapted<br />
to accommodate the boater (Fig . 7).<br />
The Veterans Administration<br />
has designed an ankle unit that<br />
permits free ankle movement<br />
while in the boat, but allows a<br />
stable foot <strong>f<strong>or</strong></strong> facility while walking<br />
on the dock. The stability<br />
during walking is obtained by using<br />
rubber tubing instead of d<strong>or</strong>si<br />
<strong>and</strong> plantar flexion bumpers as<br />
used in single-axis prosthetic feet<br />
(Figs. 8a <strong>and</strong> 8b) . Once in the boat,<br />
the individual can simply remove<br />
the tubing . This prosthesis is waterproof,<br />
buoyant, <strong>and</strong> its posteri<strong>or</strong><br />
proximal brim is fabricated to<br />
allow maximum knee flexion <strong>with</strong><br />
minimal (<strong>or</strong> no) discom<strong>f<strong>or</strong></strong>t in the<br />
area of the hamstring tendons.<br />
F<strong>or</strong> m<strong>or</strong>e in<strong>f<strong>or</strong></strong>mation on this<br />
sp<strong>or</strong>ts-compatible assistive device,<br />
contact:<br />
~ Drew HittonbergocC .R<br />
Prosthetics Research Study<br />
1102 Columbia<br />
Seattle, WA 98101<br />
(2U6)S22-7717<br />
Kayaking<br />
Individuals <strong>with</strong> amputation<br />
who kayak sometimes choose to<br />
strap their prosthesis to the boat<br />
(rather than to their body) because<br />
Fig 7 . A unilateral below-knee amputation rower wearing a VA boating prosthesis . (Photo<br />
courtesy of Prosthetic Research Study)<br />
protrusion of the prosthetic foot<br />
could entrap the boater in the<br />
event ofo capsize. F<strong>or</strong> the same<br />
reason, the use of a peg leg may<br />
be desirable.<br />
By using a water sp<strong>or</strong>ts-adapted<br />
prosthesis, buoyancy is sufficiently<br />
reduced, thus lessening the risk<br />
of the person's head going underwater<br />
if the boat capsizes . (The<br />
water-modified prosthetic limb, described<br />
in the Swimming section, is<br />
weighted <strong>f<strong>or</strong></strong> proper balance between<br />
shank <strong>and</strong> toe .) In addition to<br />
this special prosthesis, the boater<br />
should probably consider thigh<br />
10
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