Alex Moursellas' PROPRIO FOOT Story
Sarah McConnell on Alex's Prosthetic Journey
Now also wearing the PROPRIO FOOT, Alex felt he could do even more with the additional features this microprocessor ankle offered, to better meet his needs and increase his mobility.
Alex had been using a Pro-Flex Pivot foot for a few years and found huge improvements in this compared to his basic carbon foot previously used. He found the increased range of mechanical ankle motion provided significant improvements in his walking compared to his basic carbon foot. Now also wearing the PROPRIO FOOT, Alex felt he could do even more with the additional features this microprocessor ankle offered, to better meet his needs and increase his mobility.
From a clinical point of view, I had wondered how Alex would feel restricted walking with a microprocessor-controlled ankle due to its differing ankle function and the subsequent additional weight compared to the mechanical foot that he was used to. I was pleasantly surprised when I fit him with the new PROPRIO FOOT, as the 33 degrees of ankle range with active adaptation, offered a new level of comfort and natural biomechanical gait for Alex, which was evident in his walking and rollover. Alex didn’t notice the weight with the function it provided.
The PROPRIO FOOT was very easy to set up and was completed using an iPad within 15 minutes. With a few laps of our gym, Alex had completed the simple auto adjustment programming. With the help of an Össur Clinical Specialist, we ran through some additional features of the PROPRIO FOOT such as relaxed sitting, sit-to-stand and heel height adjustment. The Össur Logic app features some handy training videos which helped guide us through training in future appointments to increase familiarity with this foot and the functions it provides.
In his home and work environment Alex was spending a large duration of his day walking slopes, ramps and stairs, and the compliance and range of motion that the PROPRIO FOOT offered exceeded all expectations for himself, and even me as a clinician. As soon as we trialled it on ramps, Alex was impressed by the ankle’s ability to automatically adapt to slopes, stairs and varying terrain resulting in a significant reduction in socket pressures.
The increased toe clearance during swing phase was evident when Alex was trial walking in our gym, however it came into its own when we went outside and trialled it on the grassy slopes and riverbank near our clinic. On a daily basis this has made walking much safer for Alex, and he no longer catches the toe when walking out in the community or workplace.
Alex has been using the PROPRIO FOOT for over a year and from a clinical point of view it has proven to be simple and hassle free. I have replaced Alex’s socket since fitting him with the PROPRIO FOOT, and we simply aligned and recompleted the auto adjustment step to ensure it was functioning optimally after this change. This surprised me greatly as I was concerned a microprocessor ankle might increase review appointments and adjustments needed, however it has done the opposite.
Without a doubt the PROPRIO FOOT has changed Alex’s mobility for the better. Alex is no longer avoiding stairs and ramps in his normal outdoor environment and feels like he can walk much further with less fatigue. It was also a positive clinical experience with an easy and straight forward set up and I look forward to using it in the future for other clients to take advantage of the benefits this foot can offer to their mobility and daily life.