Returning soldier, BKA MTB fix
 

Recently i set up a Returning MTB soldier, he had lost his lower leg with an IED incident. We used a interesting retro fit use his down tube water bottle bosses, used longer allens and fixed under the water bottle cage a altered bar end rewelded for the mounting brackets. The bar ends had a deep inward curve...it allowed him to actually completely rest his right amputee stump to hold it steady in the downtube alteration. It was like watching a bullet zip off with new magic. he took to it like he had ridden all his life. It was a very cool project and made the engineering awesome. I enjoy reading the posts of alterations and adjustments to accomdate the varous groups.

keep up the Great work

Pics of the modifications?

Why doesn't the guy just wear his prosthesis on bike? I do.

He had a prosthesis. He couldn't use it at the time. He had a tremendous amount of swelling in his stump and a wound vac in place from complications. He had me try and figure out a way to use the bike while back at home with his parents. He would remove his vac all the time. Very non-compliant which is why he had the infection to begin with...but as of december, the vac is gone and he is back in New mexico where he is living now. MTB stayed in Pa. I don't have any pics. He has been working for veteran amputee advocacy. And from his facebook posts, He is starting to run again which was his true passion. Cycling was something he did before so he could compete in triathlons. I see additional posts below his all the time from his family yelling at him to give it time and be patient but he's pushing again. That's just him. Punkncat, What type of device did you go with? I believe Ryan went with a carbon fiber design that could take the flex of running. Does BLT sound like a type? We told him Softride could be his new sponsor.

I had a private message sent to me also, the message basically said they were confused by the BKA and thought i meant bilateral. not bilateral, it meant Below The Knee. And no, that wasn't a dumb question. It was a good question and i am sure more than just you wondering. Cheers.

This guy is going to cause himself a bevy of issue if he doesn't allow his stump time to properly heal before taking on this manner of activity. He definately shouldn't be out doing exercise's and activities on a stump that still has the wound pump being used on it. This guy is setting himself up for some seriously painful scar tissue and residual stump pain. Tell him to relax, heal FIRST and then start trying to resume his activities. I understand the desire to "go get it", but being impatient on this maginitude is doing nothing but causing future problems.

I have been working with my prosthesist for the past couple of years, reading from fellow amputees here and a few other sites and coming up with ideas for design on a workable riding leg. I ended up modifying "past" (old) leg designs rear trimline in able to offer room for the flexion and room for the tendons behind the knee. Additionally, there had to be a bit of room made for the posterior movement of the bottom of the tibia (etc.) I am using a Renegade foot that is one class higher in weight than what I would (now) normally walk in for the stiffness. At the time I got it, I was heavy enough to need it. I am also using an adjustable pylon that allows for simple height and toe adjustments. I ride with my BKA side marginally taller than the other leg, and turn my toe well in to allow crank clearance as well as to focus the pressure points to areas that I prefer. I had considered doing a pylon "foot" with just a cleat at the end, but a test run of the setup with my prosthesist found that I was unable to unclip that way, I need the foot for the leverage to get out of my pedals.

I will type a longer response tomorrow when i get a chance. I copied your entire advice, and sent it to him. Maybe with someone such as yourself, maybe what you say will get through to him. I have told him the same old, same old. I was telling him from a medical stance. You can tell him from medical and personal experience. I will respond longer. work is calling.

They ought to put this guy in a wide recreational kayak that doesn't need bracing. That will rest the leg and give him something physical to work on. A Wilderness Systems Pungo 140 would probably do the trick well.

I actually clipped your advice and sent it to him. He knows he needs to start listening as the healing is slow and his neglect in caring for himself hasn't helped. He is not one to work 'well' with others sometimes. He needs better communication, a good prosthesist and maybe a better therapist. I have provided enough links and i know he is reading through the forums as well as other sites. Thank you very much for the feedback, and probably the best advice that i couldn't give. some good feedback. When considering how that would work regarding clipless and being able to unclip. There are so many details and different muscle groups, etc. You have an excellent forum here for great advice and feedback. Thank you.

I am a bilateral below the knee amputee and rider. I have been an amputee for 6 years. I won't repeat what I just wrote about myself in the tread about pedals. I would recommend that your warrior friend contact Ride 2 Recovery ASAP. It is an organization that uses cycling to rehab the wounded veterans. I cannot do it justice. Google will tell you so much more. It will be a game changing organization for him. I read a quote from a battlefield surgeon a few years ago, "I'm not teaching these guys how to walk. I'm teaching these guys how to RUN!" It takes at least a year and a half for a leg to heal. The outside healing is easy. It takes the year and a half to heal the inside of the leg. It takes time, but it will happen. I have created sores so many times because I'm too stubborn to listen to my own body. The important part is he has the desire. Contact me for any help I can give. Rob

Overuse of the remaining 'whole' leg will put you on the path to arthritis in the joints on that leg. I have been a left below knee amputee since 1970. I learned around 1998 that hopping and overusing the 'whole' leg would give you knee arthritis, but it was too late for me at that point. PTs did not tell children or their parents about arthritis back in the 1970s :-)

Esther

Thats good advice. I am now starting to have some knee issues in my whole leg from overuse when running, and some patellar tendonitis a bit too.