Sport Prosthetics: Innovation for Performance and Comfort

For the past forty years, multiple innovations have allowed sports prosthetics to become more and more efficient. Although their costs still make them inaccessible to many athletes, these advancements have brought much-needed attention to amputee athletes.

What is a prosthesis? How have they revolutionized para-sports? And how can comfort be improved when using them? Let's take a look.

Prosthetics: A Device Dating Back to Antiquity

It seems that humans have been thinking about devices that allow them to move and get around even with a missing limb for a long time. In fact, representations of prosthetic devices can be seen on 3,000-year-old Egyptian funerary stelae. The oldest prosthesis discovered by archaeologists dates back to 600 BC. It was a toe made of wood and leather that mimicked the joints of the phalanges, helping its wearer to walk.

The first written mentions of the use of prostheses come from the Greek historian Herodotus, who referred to a wooden substitute that would replace an amputated foot five centuries before our era. Pliny the Elder also mentioned the artificial hand of the Roman general Marcus Sergius.

Over time, humanity showed great ingenuity in compensating for amputated limbs, but it was during wartime that the most significant advancements occurred. After World War II, the National Academy of Science initiated a research and development plan to care for the 27,000 American soldiers who had been amputated. The production of prostheses moved away from an artisanal approach to become a scientific process, leading to many innovations and the rise of more functional and accessible devices.

The History of Para-Sports for Amputee Athletes

The first para-sport competition took place in 1948. Organized in London by a neurologist, it was aimed at people with paraplegia. They practiced a form of wheelchair basketball and archery.

Initially, athletes had to settle for disciplines that didn’t depend on their mobility or equipment. They competed with their everyday prostheses or in wheelchairs.

It wasn't until the 1976 Paralympic Games in Toronto that amputee athletes could be seen running with their prostheses. However, it was 1988 that marked a turning point for amputee athletes, with the appearance of the first prosthesis designed for athletics, made of carbon and energy-returning, at the Seoul Games.

The "blades," as we know them today, first appeared on the athletics tracks in 1992 in Barcelona.

Technology Serving Ever-Improving Prosthetics

Energy-returning feet are a revolution in the history of para-sports. They are made up of two blades that deform, storing energy to release it during the stance phase. They thus behave more like a natural foot.

The blades of the first sports prosthetics were made from alloys of titanium, aluminum, or steel. Today, they are made from fiberglass, carbon, or even Kevlar. The shape of the blade has also evolved, in some cases resembling the back legs of a cheetah or a horse. This design gives them a better performance. But that’s not all: prosthetic knees have also transformed to become safer and more responsive.

These advancements are great news for athletes: they can train better and longer, in ways that are closer to those of able-bodied athletes.

Today, different types of prostheses allow athletes to practice not only athletics but also cycling, swimming, winter sports, or even high-impact sports like basketball, volleyball, dance, and weightlifting.

Thanks to better training conditions and more suitable equipment, many records have been broken one after the other.

One might even wonder if these prosthetics are more efficient than a natural leg. They are not. While they offer energy return close to 100%, they are still far from the 250% energy return of a natural foot. Moreover, these devices are extremely expensive, and they remain inaccessible to most amputees.

What Does a Sports Prosthesis Look Like?

Each prosthesis is adapted to the person wearing it and the sport they practice. However, they consist of three main parts:

• The Socket

The socket is the rigid part in which the stump fits. It is custom-made to serve as the interface between the residual limb and the prosthesis. It ensures the prosthetic device stays in place, transmits force, and guides the prosthesis.

• The Sleeve

The shape and volume of the stump may change depending on the time of day and activity, potentially causing discomfort or even injury. Therefore, the socket can be complemented with a sleeve that slips directly over the skin to provide extra protection and comfort.

• The Prosthesis

Foot, hand, leg… it may also be equipped with a joint.

Always Improving My Prosthesis: Our Tips for Taking Care of Your Stump

Amputees, and particularly athletes using sports prosthetics, may suffer from specific skin problems.

Heat, friction, a poorly fitting socket… can all cause various skin lesions. The "piston effect," caused by the movement of the stump within the socket, can lead to warming and even burns. Additionally, for some amputees, scars are fragile and sensitive.

The proliferation of bacteria is an aggravating factor for skin problems, so the first step is to take extra care with the hygiene of the stump by washing it with mild soap and drying it with a clean towel before and after your workout session.

The same goes for the socket and sleeve: they must be thoroughly clean and dry before use. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for optimal maintenance.

By regularly hydrating your skin, you also help it become more supple and resistant.

Problem? Too many creams and lotions leave a greasy film on the skin, which can increase the risk of maceration if you need to put on your prosthesis right after applying them. Some athletes prepare their skin and complete their routine by applying an anti-friction balm. While these creams indeed help limit friction, they also leave an unpleasant residue on the skin and can stain the prosthetic device.

Ritual After Sport serum is formulated with hyaluronic acid and RGTA agents, designed to deeply hydrate the skin, promote healing and cell regeneration, and strengthen it. All this without any greasy residue or scent.

In the event of irritation or skin lesions, the priority is to help the skin regenerate in the best possible conditions for your comfort. The Bye Bye Burn balm, applied several nights a week when you’re not wearing your prosthetics, will help your skin heal better and faster.

(Image source: freepik.com)