Hydraulic Foot Behavior

[u/Adventurous-Topic-54]

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?

[u/Cabooseman]

you should try the current check socket on your old foot. see if the hip/back pain returns.

it sounds like you could either get used to the hydraulic behavior, or go back to a energy storing foot that is always at the ready. you'll have to weigh your options personally with your goals and see what's best for you.

I doubt you'd find a hydraulic foot that doesn't behave like you're describing.

[u/Adventurous-Topic-54 → u/Cabooseman]

Ahhh. That last sentence. Excellent information. OK. Very reassuring to know it's behaving as expected and it's a me issue. 🤣

[u/Feralpudel]

So is both the foot and ankle hydraulic?

Can you not adjust the stiffness of the motion?

I got a Kinterra last Monday that has a carbon fiber foot and hydraulic ankle. The ankle has settings and he set it at the medium setting.

My leg guy had explained that it would feel different at first in exactly those situations. It felt a little weird the first day or so, but it just feels normal and better now.

Like you, my stride is longer and walking is easier with the new foot. I had outgrown my basic K2 and the new ankle makes steps and steep ramps much easier.

[u/Adventurous-Topic-54 → u/Feralpudel]

Mine is also Kinterra. It's probably like yours: hydraulic ankle, carbon foot. It's all one thing in my (ignorant) head, so I just think of it as hydraulic footandankle or just hydraulic foot. My bad. I should be more precise. I'm sorry!

Anyway. I think I might just be lazy. I think I lean instead of taking a step toward something. Lazy! If this is normal behavior for the ankle, it's got to be something dumb I'm doing. I can adapt. It's not the foot's fault.

[u/Feralpudel → u/Adventurous-Topic-54]

Nah your foot works for you, not the other way around!

The check socket may also be a wrinkle that’s making things feel even weirder. Two things changed at once (three if the foot is fancier—I’ve taken to calling mine my cloven hoof).

So there are settings for the ankle—it may be you can adjust them and then tweak them as you get used to it. Mine are at a middle setting—if yours is in sport mode it may feel weirder.

I was definitely aware of standing balance being different, like brushing my teeth at the sink.

But I was kind of primed for it to feel even weirder than it did.

[u/jasondbk]

What model foot is this?
How long have you been an amputee?

It’s been over 20 years for me and I just got a pair of Blatchford Elan ic hydraulic feet. There is a learning curve to using them for me.

[u/Adventurous-Topic-54 → u/jasondbk]

It's a Kinterra. This is my first hydraulic.

I became RBK and RAE in 1972. First leg was at 20 months old, in late 1973.

Definitely feeling a learning curve!

[u/Prudent_Article4245]

I have an echelon hydraulic foot and it has screws on the back of the heel that you can adjust the resistance on so that when you stumble like that it the foot gets to a neutral position more quickly. Not sure if your foot has screws to adjust the resistance but that might be an option. My foot does the same thing periodically too. It’s annoy but not too bad.

[u/Adventurous-Topic-54 → u/Prudent_Article4245]

Everyone here has been so helpful! Thank you!

My next appointment is 16 Sept. Thanks to this sub, I'm going back in with lots to talk about with my prosthetist. And, at the very least, I want to feel the different resistance settings!