{"id":41091,"date":"2022-10-16T19:08:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-16T23:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/?p=41091"},"modified":"2026-03-26T06:48:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T10:48:28","slug":"journey-on-my-prosthetic-leg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/journey-on-my-prosthetic-leg\/","title":{"rendered":"Journey on my Prosthetic Leg"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/10\/Narration.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption>Listen to this article<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sw.siemens.com\/en-US\/simcenter-healthier-world\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"213\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/11\/HW-BlogBanner-1024x213.jpg\" alt=\"Click to explore Healthier World hub\" class=\"wp-image-45787\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/11\/HW-BlogBanner-1024x213.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/11\/HW-BlogBanner-600x125.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/11\/HW-BlogBanner-768x160.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/11\/HW-BlogBanner-900x188.jpg 900w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/11\/HW-BlogBanner.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are you a Paralympian yet?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s start by clarifying something.&nbsp; Not all amputees are future Olympians!&nbsp; The unexpected fallout from the 2012 Olympics is that when people saw a prosthetic, they presume you should be leaping out of the block like Jonnie Peacock!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately for me, this is not the case, the complexity of amputations is not considered, until you must get fitted for a prosthetic.&nbsp; Every amputee is different depending on the limb\/s lost, the type of amputation, the amount of limb left, the wound, the amount of muscle left \u2026 the list goes on.&nbsp; The difficulty for the prosthetist, is fitting the prosthetic to the residual limb and keeping it there comfortably. This means that every prosthetic needs to be custom fitted.&nbsp; This is the difficulty in moving prosthetics forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4 years ago \u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I lost my left leg in 2015 after contracting Strep A.&nbsp; I wrote a series of blogs about my experience, so I won\u2019t go into it all again.&nbsp; That was 4 years ago and looking back, I feel like a \u2018grown-up\u2019 amputee now.&nbsp; What I mean by that is that the leg is not a novelty anymore.&nbsp; It\u2019s just a body part \u2026 a detachable one, but still, I guess it\u2019s how you feel about your left leg.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/pulse\/assimilating-flowers-technology-all-great-cause-debbie-searle\/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_pulse_read%3B0nLZ2iP8TWCCUP8O0dAVVQ%3D%3D&amp;licu=urn%3Ali%3Acontrol%3Ad_flagship3_pulse_read-read_related\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Part 1<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/pulse\/part-2-perks-working-mentor-mechanical-analysis-debbie-searle\/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_pulse_read%3B0nLZ2iP8TWCCUP8O0dAVVQ%3D%3D&amp;licu=urn%3Ali%3Acontrol%3Ad_flagship3_pulse_read-read_related\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Part 2<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/pulse\/part-3-bees-knees-floefd-debbie-searle\/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_pulse_read%3B0nLZ2iP8TWCCUP8O0dAVVQ%3D%3D&amp;licu=urn%3Ali%3Acontrol%3Ad_flagship3_pulse_read-read_related\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Part 3<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/pulse\/part-4-when-home-sweet-turns-sour-debbie-searle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Part 4<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time these old blogs were written, things were still quite new for me.&nbsp; So how have things changed?&nbsp; In terms of the leg, nothing has changed.&nbsp; My leg is still a C-leg which has a microprocessor knee.&nbsp; It constantly measures and analyses what I\u2019m doing to predict what it needs to do to help me function better.&nbsp; It amazes me how clever prosthetics have become and how far they have come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3,000 years ago \u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>How have things moved on since humans started using prosthetics?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"414\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/09\/3k_old_Prosthetic.jpg\" alt=\"3000 year old prosthetic toe\" class=\"wp-image-41092\"\/><figcaption>Image from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ancient-origins.net\/ancient-technology\/ancient-prosthetics-001698?fbclid=IwAR1VEF_HcrBqVYBfwP4CBmY7nEKbXlegB8Bg27L6jBWscXIYvZclSi8y5mU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ancient Origins<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>This toe is the first known prosthesis, from 3000 years ago, is made from wood and leather.&nbsp; So there have been big advancements in materials.&nbsp; Using lighter, stronger metals. Leather is still used now for comfort.&nbsp; There have also been huge developments made in functionality.&nbsp; Especially after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan when investments meant research and developments were possible.&nbsp; See how limbs have progressed from 1960 to 2000.&nbsp; Using modular components was a huge factor in improving the lives of prosthetics users.&nbsp; Functionality is important and will continue to improve, but what are we forgetting?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"963\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/09\/Prosthetic-Journey.jpg\" alt=\"Timeline of the prosthetic leg\" class=\"wp-image-40680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/09\/Prosthetic-Journey.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/09\/Prosthetic-Journey-600x564.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/09\/Prosthetic-Journey-768x722.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/09\/Prosthetic-Journey-900x846.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>The evolution of the prosthetic leg<br>Courtesy of <a href=\"https:\/\/archives.friendsqmh.com\/1960-on\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Queen Mary&#8217;s Hospital Archives<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to make your Leg, \u2018YOUR\u2019 leg<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I was so pleased to hear that in the UK, the NHS has understood how important the aesthetics of your limbs are.&nbsp; How can we help new amputees to accept this new prosthetic and make it feel like a part of them?&nbsp; These injection-molded decorative shields are now available in some NHS centers.&nbsp; You can customize them to make your prosthetic look how you wish.&nbsp; People are using them to project their personality which is a huge step forward from the fake skin and fake plastic flesh that never looked like your skin or flesh.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/09\/Cover.jpg\" alt=\"Prosthetic leg shield\" class=\"wp-image-40678\" width=\"321\" height=\"599\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/09\/Cover.jpg 428w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/09\/Cover-322x600.jpg 322w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 321px) 100vw, 321px\" \/><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/limb-art.com\/limb-art-wins-contract-to-supply-nhs-wales\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Limb-art wins contract to supply NHS Wales<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Onwards for prosthetics?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To find out about the future of Prosthetics, I spoke to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/wernerherbst\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Werner Herbst<\/a> &#8211; Centre Manager, Opcare at Queen Mary\u2019s Hospital Prosthetics Department.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He tells me that the next improvement will be electronic components for upper limb patients.&nbsp; Currently, there are limited provisions for electronic hands or multi-articulated hands.&nbsp; The aim is to bring the same policy for upper-limb that lower-limb patients currently have.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, the printing of components will bring a big change.&nbsp; Meaning a quicker turnaround time for the patient.&nbsp; There will be less waiting time for each custom-made component to be manufactured.&nbsp; There are still improvements to be made on the strength of the parts, but once available, this will make a big change.&nbsp; Meaning each component can be more easily replaced or upgraded.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/additive\/limacorporate\/?spr_cid=120_136&amp;spr_pid=300000323272477&amp;linkId=300000003028030\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read about how LimaCorporate has been forging forward with additive manufacturing for their medical implants<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Onwards for me?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So if the leg hasn\u2019t changed?&nbsp; What has?&nbsp; For me, I\u2019ve discovered a new sport.&nbsp; It is thrilling, it\u2019s brutal, it gets the adrenaline shooting around your body, it used to be called \u2018Murder ball\u2019!&nbsp; I\u2019ve joined a wheelchair rugby team.&nbsp; Playing with people with all types of disabilities.&nbsp; From Cerebral Palsy to MS, anything goes and I love that.&nbsp; It\u2019s the most inclusive group of people I have known and this is what makes us such a great team.&nbsp; How?&nbsp; With all our differences, it has become a space where we get to know each other faster and more in-depth than in a \u2018normal\u2019 situation.&nbsp; And this is why I think we gel as a team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The chairs involved in this game have to be able to absorb the massive hits, whilst keeping the \u2018passenger\u2019 safe.&nbsp; I would love to be able to simulate this in our software to measure the impacts and vibrations during a game.&nbsp; Using Simcenter software, we could use these measurements to study the design of the chair and perhaps optimize the design for weight and strength.&nbsp; Who knows \u2026&nbsp; watch this space!!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"738\" height=\"527\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/09\/Quad-Ladies.jpg\" alt=\"Quad Nations\" class=\"wp-image-41129\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/09\/Quad-Ladies.jpg 738w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/09\/Quad-Ladies-600x428.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 738px) 100vw, 738px\" \/><figcaption>Playing an Exhibition Match at the Quad Nations Tournament<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>5 years since receiving a microprocessor prosthetic leg, read about Debbie Searle\u2019s journey from becoming an amputee 7 years ago.  She also looks back at how far the technology has come and where it will go.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":69575,"featured_media":41130,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spanish_translation":"","french_translation":"","german_translation":"","italian_translation":"","polish_translation":"","japanese_translation":"","chinese_translation":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[57332,17760,21],"industry":[166,169],"product":[],"coauthors":[992],"class_list":["post-41091","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-healthier-world","tag-medical","tag-technology-innovation","industry-medical-devices-pharmaceuticals","industry-orthopedics-dental"],"featured_image_url":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2022\/09\/Walking-South-Downs.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41091","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/69575"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41091"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41091\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72795,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41091\/revisions\/72795"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41091"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=41091"},{"taxonomy":"product","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product?post=41091"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=41091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}