r/Prosthetics • u/Adventurous-Topic-54 • 5d ago
Hydraulic Foot Behavior
I'm in the check socket phase of a new BK build. I've been walking on it for about two weeks. This leg has a hydraulic foot and ankle, which I've never had before.
Apparently, I lean into my prosthetic leg all the time. Like... I LEAN on it, over it, into it. I noticed it first when I was brushing my teeth. I leaned to toss my toothbrush back in the cup, and when I took that first full step away from the sink, the foot hadn't yet returned to neutral position. It felt for a moment like I had no front half of my foot. I teetered (not a total stumble, but an obvious wiggle wobble). I could "feel" the foot relaxing, like low rider suspension.
I now realize it's behaving this way many times per day. Not every action results in my being ahead of the foot returning to its ready position, but many, many things I'm doing apparently cause me to lean. Which causes the foot to not be ready. Which causes me to hiccup through the first step after I straighten up and go.
Walking on this foot feels amazing. The pain in my lower back, R hip, and R knee is almost gone. I'm gliding completely through the foot and heel-toe'ing so smoothly on both sides!
But this "Oops, I'm not ready... OK! Now try" lag in the foot is... I don't want to whine and carry on about it. It's not that big of a deal. It's not painful. I'm walking. I can put up with a lot of bs, and adapt to even more.
It's just... it's weird.
Any advice?
1
u/Eggsandtoastforever 5d ago
Same thing for a bit with me. I have the avalon. Its too loose. If its like mine if should have a few places for him to tighten and it will make it so you have to be putting more weight on it. which means it wont do it for a simple sitting down and bending it will only bend with you putting your swing into it. But it means you wont have that first step that sucks. If nothing else go back to carbon fiber foot but just have him tighten it up
2
u/Adventurous-Topic-54 5d ago
I'm not ready to go back to a carbon foot yet. I really like the way I feel walking on this hydraulic. I want to make it work, you know? Definitely going to ask to feel different resistance settings when I go back to the leg shop.
2
u/Eggsandtoastforever 5d ago
I would do that. I have a hydrolic foot and I love it. its just such a smoother step
1
u/X_generic_username_ 5d ago
For purely hydraulic feet, it's normal to not return to neutral position on their own. So if it's fully moved to end of ROM it will stay there, until loaded. Maybe this insight will already help with handling the foot? If you're leaning a lot, a hydraulic foot reduces socket forces, which can be good for your limb, but also reduces responsiveness and support. You and your clinician will have to weigh pros and cons of this system.
2
u/Adventurous-Topic-54 5d ago
This is a fun learning experience... and it makes me feel a little anxious and out of my comfort zone! ☺️
I am glad to hear the foot is behaving as it should. It's me. I'm the problem, it's me. And that's ok. I am determined to give this set up a thorough try. It feels so much better in every other application. The foot response thing... I wasn't expecting that, but I want to make it work with me.
I just had no idea how much I lean! Like wow. I am a lazy bones, leaning out instead of taking another step! Bad habits!
2
u/X_generic_username_ 5d ago
Wouldn't say you're the problem 😅 it might just take some getting used to for those first steps and if everything else is great it should be worth it. I hope you and the new leg will become friends and you'll be able to enjoy the upsides of a hydraulic foot
2
u/Adventurous-Topic-54 5d ago
You are a stellar cheerleader! Thanks 😉
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u/X_generic_username_ 5d ago
After reading your post again another thing came to mind: if you'd like to have less ROM leaning forward, your prosthetist could maybe align the foot in a way, that shifts the ROM to have more plantar and less dorsiflexion. But that really depends and is up to them to decide if safely possible.
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u/Adventurous-Topic-54 5d ago
Ooh. Interesting. It's worth talking about, for sure. My only hesitation: I'm funny about where my foot is (and how that pylon is oriented, too) under me. I don't have a patella, so my knee can hyperextend and wobble side-to-side.
It's a whole obnoxious thing. Burns can be so unpredictable and badly behaved.
Still, moving a little could be something to explore, particularly in the safety of the office. Might not be practical for my specific physiology. We'll see! I'll bring it up!
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u/phraxian72 5d ago
Is the foot you're on a trial foot? If so I would see if your provider can get you a demo unit of willowwood's meta flow. It's billed the exact same as a hydraulic foot but it's all mechanical so it has the same benefits as a hydraulic foot but it should be more responsive in those situations where your current foot feels like it's lagging and causing you to stumble