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Sports and Recreation for Those with Lower Limb Amputation or ...

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H<strong>or</strong>seback Riding<br />

vented by using Devonshire boots<br />

(which look like a boot toe over the<br />

front of the stirrups) <strong>or</strong> safety stirrups<br />

. While NARHA instruct<strong>or</strong>s<br />

generally recommend safety stirrups,<br />

some individuals <strong>with</strong> arnputabonheve<br />

sufficient control of the<br />

prosthetic limb to manage <strong>with</strong>ou<br />

them. Stirrup modifications fit on<br />

an English saddle which is usually<br />

equipped <strong>with</strong> a safety latch on<br />

the stirrup bar to release the entire<br />

setup in case of falling <strong>and</strong> concomitantly<br />

trapping the foot.<br />

While a properly fitted Western<br />

saddle gives the rider m<strong>or</strong>e stability,<br />

it lacks the safety options of the<br />

English saddle. If h<strong>or</strong>se <strong>and</strong> rider<br />

are not properly matched in size<br />

<strong>and</strong> shape, <strong>or</strong> if the rider has<br />

unusual balance problems, some<br />

type of "residual limb stirrup"<br />

should be used to help the rider<br />

maintain balance on the h<strong>or</strong>se.<br />

!fe rider chooses to ride <strong>with</strong>out<br />

a prosthesis, he <strong>or</strong> she has to<br />

decide whether <strong>or</strong> not to construc<br />

a boot <strong>or</strong> other stirrup modification<br />

to fit the residual limb . The<br />

modified device must not fit too<br />

tightly <strong>or</strong> it might defeat its purpose<br />

by increasing the risk ofentrapment<br />

(Figs.24 <strong>and</strong> 25).<br />

Although riding vvi1hnuta prosthesis<br />

does not necessarily upset<br />

the rider's equilibrium, most prefer<br />

to wear their prosthetic limb<br />

because of the grace <strong>and</strong> naturalness<br />

it af<strong>f<strong>or</strong></strong>ds . The popliteal<br />

area of the below-knee prosthesis<br />

may need to be lowered, however,<br />

to allow necessary knee flexion.<br />

The prosthesis may also require<br />

alignment so that the foot is canted<br />

inward <strong>and</strong> the toe upward <strong>and</strong><br />

outward. The medial aspect of the<br />

prosthetic calf can be flattened so<br />

that it allows optimal contact <strong>with</strong><br />

the saddle.<br />

The individual <strong>with</strong> a very sh<strong>or</strong>t<br />

residual limb <strong>or</strong> a socket that develops<br />

pressure points will choose<br />

not to vv*ara prosthesis <strong>f<strong>or</strong></strong> h<strong>or</strong>seback<br />

riding <strong>and</strong> will want to use a<br />

Figs. 24 ond25 . Ahar<strong>with</strong> uni!aera! above-knee a—g .tao doff- g "gaming ." He rides<br />

<strong>with</strong>out a prosthesis, using a leather strap to stabilize the residual limb in the saddle.<br />

(Photos by Bernice Kegel)<br />

24

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