UKC

Okay, this may seem a little strange, but here goes. 

Last year I decked at Curbar and the compound fracture was so severe I ended up losing my left leg below the knee. I am keen to return to climbing and have been climbing indoors with my "standard" leg with a normal rock boot.

There are several drawbacks with this, which are now holding me back, so my appeal is to any other lower limb amputees - what leg/foot do you have for climbing?

In reply to jshields:

Do you have social media?

If so, drop Martin Heald or Keith Lynch a message. Both leg amputees and climb to a high level and would be happy to help. Great lads  

In reply to jshields:

Have you had a watch of this?  youtube.com/watch?v=U1wajYbYskw&

In reply to jshields:

This has been developed in the US;

vimeo.com/102801918

In reply to jshields:

I've a friend I'll ask to chime in. 

In reply to jshields:

Google 'Hugh Herr' for a start.  He lost both legs below the knee in 1982.  He subsequently built climbing feet of various sizes to fit cracks and went on to become an expert in prosthetics.

In reply to jshields:

Great to hear you're back climbing firstly. I'm below knee too, but a Symes amputation. So may differ from yourself. 

I've tried different types of foot that are offered on the nhs. I've found this year that the 'Rush' foot works well for me. 

It's just a normal foot that has more flex, so I can really push and smear on things, but is also stiff on edges. 

I'm not climbing hard to be fair (VS/ HVS on a good day) so I'd suggest just do what you're doing and try different ones and see what suits. If you're climbing really hard you may want something that's adapted specifically for climbing, so speak with the technicians, they're usually really keen to help out especially with new projects. 

Hope some of that waffle makes sense. Happy cragging 

In reply to Ben_Climber:

Thanks Ben.

In reply to D.botts87:Rush foot, ok, I will ask no idea what mine is, though it is the bottom of a carbon fibre blade. Is it climbing only, or is it an every day type? Also what about the pot, does it allow enough flex?

In reply to Climber_Bill:

Sadly not available yet.

In reply to nniff:

Thanks, knew of him, but forgot the name. Unfortunately he doesn’t build them for the NHS! Useful to have a look and inspire my leg man!

In reply to jshields:

Yes I use it as my every day foot. It takes a battering and has so far done okay. 

The downside is, it's very stiff for putting shoes on. I think I'd go half a smaller on the rush foot than my good foot next time. 

I assume you'll have a lot more options with types of foot with your amputation. I'm sure you'll find something that suits. Best of luck with it. 

In reply to jshields:

Send Craig Demartino a message - he is a nice guy and will hopefully have some advice.

In reply to D.botts87:

Yep, I have had to go half a size up just to get it to fit, all my shoes are half a size down. Thanks for your help, you are more than welcome to give me a shout if you are in the Peak District and need a friendly face.

In reply to jshields:

Although, possibly not your main aim, don't forget many alternative objectives lie out there in them there hills while you are building up the required adjustments.

For example aid climbing on big walls. 

In reply to D.botts87:

VS/HVS on a good day sounds pretty good to me for missing a lower leg.

In reply to Timmd: Yeah, me too!

In reply to Timmd:

Having climbed with D. Notts i don't notice any difference to any one else I climb with and there's definitely no room for dawdling on the walk ins!