The C-Leg by Otto Bock - Product Review

1.) Introduction to the C-Leg

Unlike many prosthetic legs before it, the microprocessor located in the knee joint for the C-Leg monitors and adapts to the individual patient's gait. It also adapts to various terrains the patient is walking on at a rate of fifty times per second. With prosthetic legs that have come before the C-Leg, many patient's who use a prosthesis would have to think or even worry about each step they take. The benefit of the C-Leg is that a patient would now be able to move more freely in activities of daily living.

When a patient is able to move more freely, they can speed up or slow down with less stress. This includes walking faster or slower when crossing a slope, climbing up stairs in a building, or even walking on ground that is not even. This means that the leg would be more adept to certain situations in everyday life like stepping down from a car or truck (motor vehicle), walking down a ramp, stepping off a ledge that is present at curbside, or even going down a set of stairs.

2.) Stumble Recovery

This is a unique feature that serves to protect the patient if they catch their foot or if a sudden stop happens. The microprocessor in the knee joint will activate a stance control mechanism, if the patient is walking and suddenly has to stop for a car, or if an object is placed in their path. The focus here is that the patient will be caught with a partially bent knee in these situations, but with the C-Leg they would not buckle, reducing their risk of falling! The benefits in these kinds of situations would be improved safety and a better sense of security for the patient.

3.) Walking More Naturally

This leg also allows people to ambulate (walk) with a more flexed knee, as compared to the natural human limb. What this does is it creates a shock reduction and in turn this reduction of shock will benefit the patient. This will allow less stress to travel back up the leg to the lower back as a result. The C-Leg has been very successful on all levels of above knee, hip disartic, and hemipelvectomy amputations.

Note: This is health information. Medical advice on the C-Leg should be provided to you by your local, licensed prosthetist.