Never say you can’t. Just ask how you can. The C-Leg microprocessor robotic prosthetic removes limitations from the lives of people with amputations. The C-Leg above knee prosthetic responds intelligently and intuitively in a wide array of activities, simplifying your routine and allowing you to get up and go whenever the mood strikes.
Ottobock’s Revolutionary Research
The C-Leg is not new, but it’s undergone significant transformation since its inception. In 1997, the C-Leg felt like the future. It was the future, but the future is a continuum. More than two decades have passed since the first C-Leg was made commercially available, and modern technology has allowed for new features that dramatically improve the way microprocessor knees perform.
How Does the C-Leg Work?
The C-Leg contains a microprocessor, which is a computing chip that relays information. The microprocessor works with sensors and software that help the knee to behave intuitively. The sensors can tell where you are and how you’re moving. They’re programmed to your gait, allowing them pre-emptively know the way you’ll take your next step.
Safer Than Any Other Leg on the Market
The sensors can measure resistance in your step, adapting to the terrain. You can walk faster or slower. You can walk down stairs or ramps. Your knee can detect your environment and help you move safely.
People who use the C-Leg often experience fewer falls due to the microprocessor’s intuitive intelligence. The leg is programmed to recognize the movements associated with a fall. It will respond by refusing to comply with the fall, staying sturdy and allowing you to shift your weight to the microprocessor knee.
Durable, Rugged, and Weatherproof For Wherever Life Takes You
No microprocessor knee is completely waterproof, but the C-Leg is weatherproof. Limited contact with fresh water won’t damage your knee. You can walk in the rain with an umbrella or participate in activities that involve water as long as you aren’t submerging your C-Leg.
In order to properly traverse stairs, your leg must provide some kind of resistance. C-Leg has a hydraulic system that performs the same function as a quadricep muscle, which is the muscle that provides the resistance in a biological leg.
Your C-Leg will be programmed just for you. It knows how to work with you to perfectly execute the movements of walking down a set of steps, strolling up a ramp, or simply walking on an uneven surface. You can take your C-Leg on a hike.
A Complete Range of Intuitive Movement
One of the features that sets the C-Leg apart from other microprocessor knees is its intuitive stance. When you’re standing still, the leg locks. This prevents unwanted bending and keeps you stable on your feet, allowing you to comfortably stand without shifting your bodyweight to one side. If you work standing up or frequently perform standing chores, you’ll find that this capability drastically simplifies your experience.
Another technology unique to the C-Leg is its ability to sense and accommodate backward walking. Other prosthetic knees are unable to recognize this motion and refuse to perform when the wearer attempts to walk backward. Walking backward is a natural reaction. If you notice you’re a little too close to the street, you’ll intuitively attempt to take a few stops back. Your C-Leg, unlike any other prosthetic leg, will allow you to do so.
Adjust Your Leg with an App
Your C-Leg and its configurations are saved into an app for your Android or iPhone. This app allows you to switch to your custom modes for specific activities. You can set your leg’s presets to walking, biking, or even golfing. Each mode is configured to work with your gait. The app even includes a step counter for active people who use a C-Leg. If you want to be sure you’re getting in your 10,000 steps a day, your app will help you keep track.
Your app will relay important information like your leg’s battery life. The battery can operate for as long as 45 hours on a full charge. If you don’t charge your leg daily, you’ll want to keep an eye on your battery.
Who Can Use the C-Leg?
Almost anyone with an above-knee amputation can use the C-Leg. The C-Leg is rated for up to 300 pounds of weight. To determine if a C-Leg would be a suitable option for you, speak with a prosthetist and Tony Martin Limb and Brace. We’ll be happy to review your options with you.
Give C-Leg a Try
Microprocessor knees improve quality of life for their users, but they take some getting used to. Your microprocessor knee will need a few adjustments and customizations before it will work optimally with your body, and getting a feel for the knee is the only way to know if the knee is suited to you.
Ottobock has a trial program. You can work with Tony Martin Limb and Brace to request a trial of the C-Leg before you decide if the device is right for you. It’s worth noting that 94% of users prefer the C-Leg to their previous prosthetic. Opting for a trial first is always a good idea, but it’s unlikely that you’ll find yourself in the 6% who would rather use a different prosthetic.
Booking Your Appointment
You can request a trial of the C-Leg by, booking an appointment with the prosthetic experts at Tony Martin Limb and Brace in Tucson. We’ll discuss microprocessor options, answer any questions you may have, and work with you to request your trial.
When your trial is available, we’ll show you how to use your C-Leg app and help you program your custom settings. Adapting to the C-Leg may be a bit of a process for some people, particularly if they aren’t used to robotic or smart prosthetics. Give it time and let us guide you through the process. You’ll be hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing before you know it.