Watch the power of prosthetics at the Winter Paralympics

Gone are the days when differently-abled men and women would grudgingly accept their fate in life and give up their aspirations of leading a healthy, normal, and fulfilling life. The introduction of prosthetics has changed the game for these men and women and enabled them to achieve their goals. One of the foremost areas where prosthetics have turned the situation around for the differently-abled is the field of competitive sports.

Para-athletics is a competitive sport practiced by people with disabilities. The most popular para-athletic sporting event is the Paralympics. While most of para-athletics sports are the same as those played by the able-bodied, there are two major exceptions in wheelchair racing and club throw. Some of the most famous para-athletes to use prosthetics successfully in competitive sports include Jeremy Campbell, Aimee Mullins, Scott Schroeder, Hugh Herr, Bob Radocy and last but not least, Oscar Pistorius.

The most popular para-athletic sporting event is the Paralympics. While most of para-athletics sports are the same as those played by the able-bodied, there are two major exceptions in wheelchair racing and club throw.

The South African sprint runner came into the limelight after he became a Paralympic champion. Dubbed as the Blade Runner, Pistorius found himself in a legal wrangle after he attempted to enter non-disabled track events. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) refused to grant him permission to participate arguing that his prosthetic legs would give him an unfair advantage over his able-bodied competitors. Pistorius, however, prevailed in the fight and was allowed to participate in non-disabled international competitions and went on to become the first amputee to win a non-disabled world track medal at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics.

Much research has been conducted on whether prosthetics give an unfair advantage to specially-abled sportspersons over their able-bodied counterparts.

A study by Alena Grabowski at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology seemed to suggest that the authorities may have been wrong to conclude that the prostheses gave an unfair advantage to these para-athletes.

Grabowski and her team studied and examined the performance of six elite sprinters – each with one amputated leg – and compared how their prosthetic limb fared against the real leg. Their study found the limiting factor determining an athlete’s speed was how hard his foot or prosthesis hit the ground. The study revealed that this “ground force” was around 9 per cent lower in the prosthetic limb than the unaffected one, thus confirming that prosthetics conferred no extra advantage on these specially-abled sportspersons, but instead, enabled them to participate in competitions meant for able-bodied sportsmen, and have a chance at leading a respectable life.

Some of the most common prostheses include:

Lower leg and foot: A variety of prosthetic feet are available to simulate the action of a real foot. One of these varieties, in fact, uses a microprocessor to modify and adjust joint movement, thus making walking more efficient and safe, and reducing the risk of falls.

Leg with knee: For amputations above the knee, there are models with knee and ankle joint. Presently there are over a hundred varieties of prosthetic ankle, foot and knee models. Some of these use fluid or hydraulic controlled devices, while others use computerised parts to enable the users to vary their walking speed.

Arm and hand: The most commonly used prosthetic arm – which is also the oldest model – is the one in which the prosthesis is operated with the body’s own movements. This is attached to a harness that extends across the back and under the opposite arm. Other models use a rechargeable battery to run small motors in the prosthetic hand.

Prosthetics have come a long way over the last century in terms of design, structure and use. The most advanced prosthetics today are the Bionic prosthetics which are highly responsive as they attempt to mimic natural limbs. These prosthetics work by picking up electric signals from the stump and require a lot of practice and concentration to control a movement.

The field of prosthetics is expected to grow over 20 per cent over the next decade, creating many job opportunities for young graduates. Pursuing a degree in prosthetics will be necessary if you are looking to gain valuable career opportunities. UPES offers a BTech in Biomedical Engineering with specialisation in Prosthetics, a course that is benchmarked against pioneer institutions in the field like Harvard and Stanford. The course follows a rigorous curriculum that is designed to provide experiential learning to students through internships with GE Healthcare.

Note: The views expressed in this article are that of University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES) and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha