Prosthetic socket

The key to a good prosthetic leg is proper fit of the prosthetic socket. Which depends first and foremost on the expertise of your prosthetist. Therefore it is difficult to say if your prosthetic socket fit is good or if you could have a better one. I have seen many prosthetists and more than once I had to change my prosthetist because the prosthetic socket I got was uncomfortable or even painful.

The prosthetic socket I am demonstrating in this video is unconventional because I hold this socket purely with muscle contraction in my residual limb. I do not need a silicone liner or a donning aid (to pull the stump skin into the socket). This might not work for all above knee amputees. However, the precise fitting of this socket is a demonstration of what is possible even with a short stump. This should give hope to amputees who are struggling with their current prosthetic leg. See my video to understand why this above-knee prosthetic socket is exceptional.

I give credit to my prosthetist Alexander Schwarz from Schwarz Beinprothetik in Hamburg, Germany, whose expertise, commitment and patience in finding the optimal socket fit for his above knee amputee customers is unparalleled. For me as an above knee amputee a prosthetic socket that is both functional and comfortable is a major factor for my quality of life!

Also see this video in which I show how I don my above-knee prosthesis:

Easily Donning my Above Knee Prosthetic Leg

In the following video I am testing my socket on difficult terrain, requiring a maximum of stability in the socket. See how it works, even with a short stump:

Also see my post on my flexible prosthetic socket.

Prosthetic socket comfort often is a big problem for above knee amputees. The flexible prosthetic socket I am demonstrating here has changed my quality of life as an above-the-knee amputee! This socket is very comfortable, yet providing good stability when I walk on my prosthetic leg. When I have a day in office, or in my job having long meetings with customers, I require a comfortable prosthetic socket that enables me to sit for long hours without having pain from the prosthetic socket. When walking, I require good stability in the socket. My flexible prosthetic socket is made from silicone with different degrees of flexibility, and certain areas having a rigid carbon frame inside.

Above knee amputation flexible transfemoral socket. — Comfortable and flexible prosthetic socket for above knee prosthesis

This innovative prosthetic socket design has been developed by Alexander Schwarz and Udo Danske from Schwarz Beinprothetik. Also see my article on Prosthetic Socket Fit.

Update:

I had written the article about my flexible socket quite some time ago. In the meantime, I have had the opportunity to gain even more experience with different types of sockets. I would now say, the best functional socket is rigid, but having a perfect socket shape. Compare it with a shoe: a hiking shoe might be less comfortable than a slipper in some circumstances, but it gives you the best stability and function. Likewise, a flexible socket can be more comfortable in some situations, but a rigid socket is better in most. It is true that a flexible socket may “forgive” a suboptimal socket shape to some degree and I have had quite some feedback from amputees who had hoped that a flexible socket might solve their problems.

My answer is this: Try to get an optimal socket shape first. A prosthetic socket having an optimal shape does not hurt even if it is totally rigid! From that basis, you could try to get a more flexible socket version later, possibly even in addition, having different sockets to switch. Like you have both hiking shoes and slippers, and you switch depending on circumstances. But don’t compromise on socket shape. You will only know if your socket shape is right if it is rigid but does not hurt. Also see my article about Prosthetic Socket Fit.

In the video below I am testing a new above knee prosthetic socket. My prosthetist, Alexander Schwarz, is performing a video gait analysis:

Information and inspiration for above-knee amputees

Category Archives: Prosthetic socket

Prosthetic Socket Fit

Flexible Prosthetic Socket