One Foot, Two Very Different Experiences
We love patient trial days! They’re a great chance for patients to experience how different prosthetic products feel, and for us to get real-time feedback about what works, what doesn’t, and why. We take that information seriously and use it to help discern what might be best for our patients.
Recently, we had a bilateral transtibial amputee trial the Pro-Flex Terra feet. She felt great on the foot on her dominant side, but on her non-dominant side, something just felt off. The difference between the two sides was significant enough that we knew this particular setup wasn't the right solution for her at this time.
You might think that experience would discourage us from trying the feet on a bi-lateral patient again. But that's not how we approach care.
Fast forwarding a few months, we worked with a bilateral knee disarticulation amputee who was looking for something very specific. As someone who has been working hard to improve his strength and flexibility, he wanted a foot that felt “quiet and still” when holding certain yoga poses.
We knew this patient well. Since first meeting him three years ago, we'd seen significant improvements in his gait and overall abilities. We understood his goals, knew how hard he had been working, and thought the Pro-Flex Terra feet might be worth another try. In particular, we kept hearing the phrase "quiet" as a description of the Terra foot when standing still.
So, we gave them another shot. He wore them for several weeks, and guess what? He loved them!
He immediately noticed a reduction in back pain and felt more stable when standing still. He also felt more stable when sitting down and allowing his MPK knees to move into their seated position. Perhaps most excitingly, he began walking distances that he had never thought were achievable before.
Two bilateral amputees. Two different amputation levels. Two very different experiences with the same product.
That's why we believe in patient trials.
A product that isn't right for one person may be exactly what another person needs. The difference comes down to the individual: their anatomy, their goals, their movement patterns, their strength, and the activities they want to pursue.
We put together what we know about the patient, what we know about the product, and what we learn from real-world feedback from users. Then, we're willing to experiment, reassess, and try again when it makes clinical sense.
Finding the right prosthetic solution isn't about choosing a product from a website, and it’s not about being forced to use a single product because we are able to buy it at a discount. It's about finding the right solution for the person wearing it.
And sometimes, the best way to do that is to give it the "good old college try"!
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