New innovations in prosthetics have resulted in a product to help children run and walk more seamlessly
Fatima Zahra has a new foot! Children want to run! It comes to them naturally. It is beneficial for mental and physical development, sleep, general health and group participation to name but a few.
Prosthetic feet are usually either for running or walking. When you run, the prosthetic foot must give you much more energy back than when walking normally. For this reason, sprinters and runners use carbon fibre blades.
But running blades are not very good for everyday walking. Walking and standing normally is very important as children’s bodies are still developing. If the prosthesis doesn’t mimic normal walking and standing it could lead to deformities like scoliosis, hip dislocations, joint misalignment and anatomical malformation.
The challenge is that children will run with walking feet! They might not run very well, but you can’t stop them.
Fortunately, there is a new product in town that walks just as well as it runs. The only compromise is that it does not come with a foot cover. You cannot wear a shoe with it because it only comes with its own hard- wearing sole like a Tekkie.
Fatima loves her new mini blade. She runs and jumps and climbs and swims (because its waterproof) all day long. She does not care about not having a shoe on that side either. She cannot be bothered. Her friends at school think the little pink blade is cool! She had this new little foot for the December holiday and brought back some pictures!
You go little girl! Walk and run as much as you like!
