The prosthetic foot makes everything else possible. Whether you‘re an above or below knee amputee, the quality and performance of your whole prosthesis will be impacted by the quality and performance of the prosthetic foot.
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With a wide range of Ottobock prosthetic feet you can be sure that together with your Prosthetist you will find the one prosthetic foot fitting to your personal needs. Whether it is a foot made out of carbon or it is a microprocessor controlled foot – our whole portfolio is based on the same idea: building a foundation. We take our responsibility seriously. When choosing a prosthetic foot from Ottobock, you can be sure that each one is designed with passion, in compliance with highest quality standards and always with your needs in mind.
Each user is different and each user has different individual habits, preferences and goals. To meet your individual requirements and those of other users, it is not purposeful to provide one prosthetic foot for everyone but to have different prosthetic feet for different user needs. Our prosthetic feet cater to your requirements on an individual level.
Apart from giving you more insights into our prosthetic foot portfolio, we put together some useful information on selection criteria, prosthetic feet in general and FAQs for you. We believe the more knowledge you have of how your Prosthetist will choose the best foot for you, the more actively you can participate in your fitting. This will ensure you are both happy with the end result.
Designing prosthetic foot systems is challenging. It’s very difficult to reproduce the complex workings of the human foot and ankle. Ideally the foot will be light because its weight is added to the rest of the prosthetic leg. If the foot is too heavy and the suspension of the prosthesis is not appropriate, the connection to the socket and your limb will be affected and also the overall function of the prosthesis.
A good prosthetic foot should also be strong, as it will be taking on large forces and torque as you walk and run. Feet must also be small enough to fit within a foot shell, a cosmetic covering for the prosthetic foot, and thus fit within a shoe. Being light, strong and small whilst still remaining functional and durable is the challenge.
Early designs for prosthetic feet were often a solid piece of wood. A similar design, the SACH (solid-ankle-cushioned-heel) is still in use because of its sturdy function. It is especially useful for individuals with lower activity levels. A SACH foot typically has a rigid inner structure (wood or plastic) surrounded by a compressible foam cosmetic shell.
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Today’s more sophisticated feet add more functions and are secured inside a cosmetic shell. Most people never see their prosthetic foot without this exterior shell. The cosmetic shell stretches around the prosthetic foot and serves two purposes:
It makes your prosthetic foot look like an anatomical foot.
It fits snuggly in your shoe.
What’s inside the shell can vary dramatically. Prosthetic feet are designed to meet the needs of your lifestyle and activity level. Here are some factors to consider.
Choosing a prosthetic foot that best suits your personal requirements, needs and goals is a complex task. Your Prosthetist is an expert in this field. Thanks to his education, experience and biomechanical knowledge, he will choose the prosthetic foot that helps achieve the best possible fitting outcome for you individually. The information provided in this section only serves as a guidance. Please contact your Prosthetist if you have more detailed questions.
Your level of amputation will be one of the first things that needs to be looked at when choosing the components in a prosthesis. An above knee amputation requires a prosthetic knee joint and the type of knee joint will help to define the appropriate prosthetic foot. This is where your Prosthetist will assess the functions of the prosthetic knee joint and recommend an appropriate prosthetic foot. Because the natural knee joint is intact after a below knee amputation, your Prosthetist will consider factors like length of the residual limb, strength and range of motion when recommending an appropriate prosthetic foot.
Prosthetic feet vary in height. We call the height of a prosthetic foot build height. Your height and the length of your residual limb as a below knee amputee will determine the space you have for a prosthetic foot and what is the appropriate build height for the prosthetic foot. As an above knee amputee, the length of the prosthetic knee joint will be an additional factor to consider for the build height of the prosthetic foot.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit orthotic knee joint.